Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Reports of secret US-Venezuela talks to oust Maduro draw skepticism
Source: The Guardian
Reports of secret US-Venezuela talks to oust Maduro draw skepticism
Claims that Nicolás Maduro’s number two official is working with the US are an attempt to ‘stoke paranoia’, experts say
Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent
Mon 19 Aug 2019 17.00 BST Last modified on Mon 19 Aug 2019 19.00 BST
He is one of the most influential and infamous figures in Venezuelan politics – a hardcore Chavista who uses his weekly talkshow to preach permanent revolution and excoriate the evil empire up north.
But two reports in the American media now suggest Diosdado Cabello, Nicolás Maduro’s number two official, has been engaged in “secret communications” with United States officials designed to force Hugo Chávez’s successor from power.
Observers of Venezuelan politics greeted Sunday’s reports – from the Associated Press and Axios – with skepticism.
“I’m not convinced it is true,” said Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at the Chatham House thinktank.
“I think what the US is trying to do is some sort of psy ops thing, trying to rattle people within Maduro’s administration. They are trying to get inside Maduro’s head and stoke paranoia within the inner-circle,” Sabatini added.
-snip-
Claims that Nicolás Maduro’s number two official is working with the US are an attempt to ‘stoke paranoia’, experts say
Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent
Mon 19 Aug 2019 17.00 BST Last modified on Mon 19 Aug 2019 19.00 BST
He is one of the most influential and infamous figures in Venezuelan politics – a hardcore Chavista who uses his weekly talkshow to preach permanent revolution and excoriate the evil empire up north.
But two reports in the American media now suggest Diosdado Cabello, Nicolás Maduro’s number two official, has been engaged in “secret communications” with United States officials designed to force Hugo Chávez’s successor from power.
Observers of Venezuelan politics greeted Sunday’s reports – from the Associated Press and Axios – with skepticism.
“I’m not convinced it is true,” said Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at the Chatham House thinktank.
“I think what the US is trying to do is some sort of psy ops thing, trying to rattle people within Maduro’s administration. They are trying to get inside Maduro’s head and stoke paranoia within the inner-circle,” Sabatini added.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/19/reports-of-secret-us-venezuela-talks-to-oust-maduro-draw-skepticism
______________________________________________________________________
Related: AP Exclusive: US talks secretly to Venezuela socialist boss (Associated Press)
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read