Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said his government had warned Washington about what he described as a planned “false flag operation” targeting the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. The alleged plot, according to officials, involved extremist factions of the Venezuelan opposition attempting to detonate explosives at the diplomatic compound.
Alleged Plot and Rising Tensions
The warning was first issued by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, who announced on Telegram that the Venezuelan government had alerted the United States through three separate channels. He also claimed a European embassy had been informed, though he did not identify which one.
Maduro elaborated on Monday night during a televised interview, saying his administration received information from two “reliable sources,” one local and one international. He said security forces were dispatched to reinforce the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
“This was supported by a person who will soon be known and requested by another person who will also be revealed,” Maduro said, suggesting authorities already know who orchestrated the alleged plan. He argued that the purpose of the attack was to blame his government and “begin an escalation of conflict.”
The United States has not publicly commented. Both the White House and the State Department declined to respond to requests for confirmation. Washington closed its embassy in Caracas in 2019, after diplomatic relations were severed, but local personnel continue to oversee limited operations.
The alleged plot comes amid renewed friction between Caracas and Washington. In recent weeks, U.S. forces have intercepted at least four vessels allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuelan waters. Former President Donald Trump has also indicated the United States could target drug cartels “coming by land” through Venezuela.
According to The New York Times, Trump recently instructed his special envoy, Richard Grenell, to halt all diplomatic outreach to the Maduro government, effectively suspending any path toward negotiation.