FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Venezuela said on Monday it had thwarted what it described as a CIA-backed plot to attack a US warship docked in Trinidad and to blame the government in Caracas for the attack.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement that he had notified the government in Trinidad of the suspected false flag operation.
The charges came a day after Venezuela said it had arrested what it called mercenaries linked to the CIA.
"A criminal cell funded by the CIA and linked to this covert operation is being dismantled in our territory," Gil said.
US President Donald Trump recently said he has approved covert action in Venezuela and is considering launching operations on Venezuelan territory.
This would be in addition to a US naval deployment in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, where US forces have launched 10 attacks on what Washington called drug smuggling ships, killing 43.
Venezuela says the ultimate goal of deploying US troops is to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.
The US deployment includes seven warships, which will be joined by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, the largest in the world.
One of these ships, the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, docked in Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain, on Sunday for a four-day visit, which will include joint exercises with local defense forces.
Venezuela, whose east coast is a short distance from Trinidad, calls this a provocation.
Gil said he had told Trinidad about the alleged plot "to attack an American warship stationed on that island and then blame Venezuela, in order to justify aggression against our country."
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