Source: Sputnik Mundo
What it’s about: The article includes remarks made by the executive director of a Russia-based think-tank, Egor Lidovskoi, on President Maduro’s concerns about a possible U.S. military invasion in Venezuela. It picks up on a recent article published by AP that states that President Trump’s intentions to consider a military invasion in Venezuela were more extensive than had previously been thought. President Trump publicly floated the idea in August 2017, but the AP article mentions several other occasions where the president brought forth potential military action, despite efforts made by top aides, like former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, to dissuade him from the idea. Lidovski comments that Maduro should be concerned about a possible U.S. invasion and suggests that Venezuela should prepare for military action. He mentions the case of Libya, where “Gadafi was murdered because of not being aligned with U.S. interests, despite his correct alignment with the needs of Libyans”.
What’s misleading about it: This article is misleading because it offers no evidence to support the remarks made by Lidovskoi confirming Maduro’s fear of a U.S. invasion. It equates past remarks made by Trump to potential military actions and suggests to the reader that the U.S. administration is actively considering these measures without offering evidence to support these claims. There are other articles published on Sputnik Mundo that build on the issue and highlight Russia’s opposition to any sort of military invasion, effectively framing the U.S. as a perverse, strategic actor that is poised to capitalize on the economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.