The United States estimated on Tuesday that the attempted "invasion" by sea of Venezuela denounced by Caracas could be part of a "major disinformation campaign" led by President Nicolas Maduro. "We are trying to learn more, including about the activities of the two American nationals" whose Venezuelan authorities have announced their arrest, said a spokesperson for the US State Department.
President Donald Trump has denied any involvement. "It has nothing to do with our government," he said. Fifteen people were arrested in all by Caracas. Nicolas Maduro, whose legitimacy is no longer recognized by Washington, presented the two detained Americans on Monday as "members of the security forces" of Donald Trump. He brandished the passports of the two suspects, identified as Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41.
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Earlier Monday, the Venezuelan prosecution had accused opponent Juan Guaido, whom the United States and more than 50 other countries consider as the interim president of Venezuela, of having recruited "mercenaries" . He claims that he used funds from this oil country blocked by American sanctions to foment an attempt at maritime "invasion" . The representative of the public prosecutor also released a video in which a former American soldier by the name of Jordan Goudreau, who founded a private security company called Silvercorp USA, talks about an operation in progress against Nicolas Maduro.
"There is a major disinformation campaign waged by the Maduro regime, which makes it difficult to distinguish facts from propaganda," commented American diplomacy, adding that it would also try to shed light on the actions of Jordan Goudreau. "We will also closely study the role of the Maduro regime in this melodrama and in particular the very important Cuban intelligence apparatus in Venezuela," added the spokesman for the State Department. "Maduro and his accomplices are known for their lies and manipulations," he said, calling on "not to take literally" the accusations of the Venezuelan authorities.
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For Washington, "what is certain" is that the latter " use this event to justify increased repression" . The State Department further notes that "these events" came shortly after a "massacre of detainees" during a mutiny that left 47 dead and 75 injured in a prison in western Venezuela.
This alleged "invasion" attempt comes just over a year after Juan Guaido's call for an army uprising. On April 30, 2019, he tried, in vain, to encourage the barracks to rebel against the “usurper” Nicolas Maduro. The latter continues to enjoy the support of the army staff, the centerpiece of the Venezuelan political system, but also of China, Russia and Cuba.
