AP: Trump urged advisers in 2017 to find ways to invade Venezuela – International

US President Donald Trump has asked senior advisers in 2017 to study ways to trigger a military invasion of Venezuela, according to Washington-based political sources and cited on the Associated Press website. .

According to sources cited, Donald Trump formulated this idea at a meeting in August 2017 in the oval office of the White House. While discussing the sanctions against Venezuela, Donald Trump addressed a simple question to the advisers: As Venezuela threatens regional security, why could the United States simply not invade this country? This suggestion shocked officials at the Washington Administration, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Presidential Adviser on National Security Herbert McMaster, who meanwhile have left their jobs.

According to Mediafax, information about the conversation was revealed by Washington politicians quoted by the Associated Press. Herbert McMaster and other presidential advisers told Donald Trump that a military intervention could have the effect of worsening US relations with Latin American partners involved in the effort to sanction President Nicolas Maduro for the attempts to establish a dictatorship in Venezuela. But, according to sources cited, Donald Trump presented counter-arguments, giving examples of military interventions in Panama and Grenada in the 1980s.

The next day, Donald Trump raised concerns by recalling "the military option" in power of Nicolas Maduro. Later, Trump spoke about this situation with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, explained a US official.

In September, at the UN General Assembly meeting, Donald Trump recalled this opportunity at a private dinner with leaders from four countries in South America, according to sources cited by Politico.com.