The Trump administration met several times last year and early this year with Venezuelan military officers purporting to be dissidents plotting a coup against President Nicolás Maduro, but ultimately rebuffed their requests for assistance, according to U.S. officials. Maduro has frequently accused the United States of plotting with his opponents, and of economic and actual warfare against him. [Book, op-ed show how some Trump aides work to curb his instincts]The administration has imposed sanctions on a number of Venezuelan officials, including senior military officers. Despite sharply falling oil exports in recent years, Venezuela is the fourth-largest foreign supplier to the United States, which remains the largest purchaser of Venezuelan crude. Adam Isacson, of the Washington Office on Latin America, said few U.S. administrations would pass up the opportunity to meet with alleged coup plotters at least once, given the opacity of the Venezuelan military.

Source: Washington Post September 08, 2018 22:08 UTC