Wikipedia

Operation Gideon (2020): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Use a different descriptor of Maduro then? We need to describe the purpose of the operation in the opening. Undid revision 959282505 by David Tornheim (talk)
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,219,376 edits
Removed parameters. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by BorgQueen | Category:CS1 Austrian German-language sources (de-at) | #UCB_Category 627/761
 
Line 1:
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{short description|Conflict in Venezuela}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Operation Gideon
| partof = the [[Crisis in Venezuela]] and the [[Venezuelan presidential crisis]]
| image = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Operación Gedeón 2020 - Capture.png
Line 17 ⟶ 20:
| foot_montage =
}}
| caption = '''Top to bottom, left to right:'''<br />Venezuelan authorities intercepting a boat; [[Nicolás Maduro]] holding the [[United States passport|US passports]] of captured former [[Green Berets]]; Mercenaries under arrest by [[SEBIN]] agents
| date = 3–4 May 2020
| place = [[Venezuela]]
* [[Macuto, Vargas|Macuto]], [[La Guaira (state)|La Guaira]]
* [[Chuao]], [[Aragua]]
| status =
| result = Plot infiltrated and foiled by Maduro government
*Government begins ''Bolivarian Shield'' military response.
*99 arrest warrants are issued by Maduro administration, including for Jordan Goudreau, J.J. Rendón and Sergio Vergara, on 8 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=El régimen de Nicolás Maduro imputó "por terrorismo y conspiración" a dos estadounidenses y emitió otras 25 órdenes de captura por las incursiones en Venezuela |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/05/08/el-regimen-de-maduro-imputo-por-terrorismo-y-conspiracion-a-dos-estadounidenses-y-emitio-otras-25-ordenes-de-captura-por-las-incursiones-en-venezuela/ |accessdate=9 May 2020 |agency=[[Infobae]] |date=8 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="HRW-under-attack">{{Cite web|title=Venezuelan Human Rights Group Under Attack|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/08/venezuelan-human-rights-group-under-attack|date=2020-05-08|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
* Jordan Goudreau investigated by US federal authorities.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation">{{Cite web|title=Sources: US investigating ex-Green Beret for Venezuela raid|url=https://apnews.com/038e966350a9d7e8ec7a38341f0efeac|last=Goodman|first=Joshua|authorlink=|last2=Smith|first2=Scott|date=2020-05-06|website=Associated Press (Caracas, Washington, New York)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11|last3=Lee|first3=Matthew|last4=Herschaft|first4=Randy}}</ref>
* Russia conveys [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] debate on the incursion
| combatant1 = {{Flag|Venezuela}}
* [[National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela]]
* [[Bolivarian Intelligence Service]]
* Venezuelan fishermen
 
'''Support:'''
* {{flag|Russia}}<ref name="ECrus">{{cite news |last1=Leon |first1=Ibis |title=Agentes rusos rastrean a implicados en "Operación Gedeón" en Carayaca |language=es|trans-title=Russian agents track down those implicated in "Operation Gideon" in Carayaca|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/agentes-rusos-rastrean-a-implicados-en-operacion-gedeon-en-carayaca/ |accessdate=8 May 2020 |work=[[Efecto Cocuyo]] |date=8 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="ZODI">{{Cite news|last=Kinosian |first= Sarah |date=8 May 2020|title=Russian troops to help Venezuela search for members of failed incursion: report|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-security-russia/russian-troops-to-help-venezuela-search-for-members-of-failed-incursion-report-idUSKBN22K2LZ|url-status=live|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>
| combatant2 = Silvercorp USA
* Venezuelan dissidents
 
'''Support:'''
* [[Juan Guaidó|Guaidó government]] {{small|(until Nov 2019)}}
* {{ill|Hernán Alemán (politician)|lt=Hernán Alemán|es|Hernán Alemán}} {{small|(until March 2020)}}<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare">{{Cite interview|last=Alemán|first=Hernán|interviewer=Anaisa Rodríguez|title=Dip. Hernán Alemán, a ND: Averiguaré quién sacó a Cliver Alcalá así me cueste la vida|url=https://www.noticierodigital.com/2020/05/dip-hernan-aleman-a-nd-averiguare-quien-saco-a-cliver-alcala-asi-me-cueste-la-vida/|language=es|trans-title=Deputy Hernán Alemán to Noticiero Digital: I will find out who took out Cliver Alcalá if it's the last thing I do|date=2020-05-16}}</ref><ref name="contrapunto-not-magnicide">{{Cite web|url=https://contrapunto.com/nacional/politica/hernan-aleman-operacion-gedeon-no-era-efectuar-un-magnicidio/|title=Diputado Hernán Alemán: Operación Gedeón no era para efectuar un magnicidio sino para que Maduro fuera a la cárcel|date=2020-05-08|access-date=2020-05-18|website={{ill|Contrapunto.com|es|Contrapunto (portal de Internet)}}|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Deputy Hernán Alemán: Operation Gideon was not to assassinate Maduro, it was so he would go to jail|via=TVV Noticias}}</ref><ref name="talcual-Aleman-nobody-financed">{{Cite web|url=https://talcualdigital.com/hernan-aleman-nadie-financio-la-operacion-gedeon-y-nos-ayudaron-por-mendicidad/ |title=Hernán Alemán: Nadie financió la Operación Gedeón|date=2020-05-19|access-date=2020-05-19|website=[[Tal Cual]]|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Hernán Alemán: Nobody financed Operation Gideon}}</ref>
| commander1 = {{flagicon image| Presidential Standard of Venezuela.svg}} '''[[Nicolás Maduro]]'''
* [[Diosdado Cabello]]
* [[Vladimir Padrino López]]
* [[Néstor Reverol]]
| commander2 = '''[[Jordan Goudreau]]'''
* [[Clíver Alcalá Cordones]]
* Javier Nieto Quintero
* Robert Colina {{KIA}}
* Antonio Sequea Torres {{POW}}
 
| strength1 = unknown
| strength2 = 300 {{small|(planned)<ref name="APgreen">{{cite news | last1 = Goodman | first1 = Joshua | title=Ex-Green Beret led failed attempt to oust Venezuela's Maduro |url=https://apnews.com/79346b4e428676424c0e5669c80fc310 |accessdate=5 May 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>}}<br>
≈60 {{small|(actual)<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella">{{Cite web|title=The Invasion of Venezuela, Brought To You By Silvercorp USA|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/05/05/the-invasion-of-venezuela-brought-to-you-by-silvercorp-usa/|date=2020-05-05|website=[[Bellingcat]]|first=Giancarlo|last=Fiorella|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref><ref name="BBCMundo">{{Cite news|last=Editor|first=|date=2020-05-07|title=Una supuesta confesión televisada y otros detalles de la "fallida incursión armada" en Venezuela por la que se detuvo a dos estadounidenses|trans-title=A supposed televised confession and other details regarding the "failed armed incursion" in Venezuela, over which two Americans were detained|language=es|work=BBC News Mundo|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-52546757|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>}}
 
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 =
* 8 killed <ref name="AA-Panteras" /><ref name="ajwhatweknow">{{Cite web|title=Venezuela 'failed coup plot': What we know so far|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/venezuela-failed-coup-plot-200506073924677.html|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref name="PadrinoTweet">{{Cite news|date=2020-05-06|last1=Mozo Zambrano|first1=Reynaldo|title=Padrino López anuncia captura de tres "mercenarios" en la carretera El Junquito-Carayaca|trans-title=Padrino Lopez announces the capture of three "mercenaries" on the El Junquito-Carayaca Highway|language=es-es|work=Efecto Cocuyo|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/padrino-lopez-anuncia-captura-de-tres-mercenarios-en-la-carretera-el-junquito-carayaca/|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How">{{Cite news|last=Faiola|first=Anthony|last2=Boburg|first2=Shawn|last3=Herrero|first3=Ana Vanessa|date=2020-05-10|title=Venezuela raid: How an ex-Green Beret and a defecting general planned to capture Maduro|work=The Washington Post|url=https://washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuela-raid-jordan-goudreau-cliver-alcala-maduro/2020/05/10/767c3386-9194-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511025514/https://washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuela-raid-jordan-goudreau-cliver-alcala-maduro/2020/05/10/767c3386-9194-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html|archive-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
* 17 captured {{ small|(including 2 American mercenaries) <ref name="PadrinoTweet" />}}
}}
{{Crisis in Bolivarian Venezuela short}}
 
The '''Macuto Bay raid''' from 3 to 4 May 2020, also known as '''Operation Gideon''' ({{lang-es|Operación Gedeón}}), was an unsuccessful attempt by [[Venezuela]]n [[dissident]]s and a [[Florida]]-based [[private military company]], Silvercorp USA, to [[Landing operation|infiltrate Venezuela by sea]] and to remove disputed president of Venezuela, [[Nicolás Maduro]], from office. The plan involved entering the country by boat in order to take control of [[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]] in [[Maiquetía|Maiquetia]], capture Maduro and other high-level figures in his government, and expel them from the country. The operation had been infiltrated by supporters of the Maduro government early on. After the event, Maduro and his officials stated that his administration had inside knowledge of the smallest details of the operation.
 
The operation occurred in the broader context of an ongoing [[Responses to the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis|international dispute]] beginning in January 2019 over [[Venezuelan presidential crisis|who is the legitimate president of Venezuela]]; Nicolás Maduro or [[Juan Guaidó]]. Throughout the presidential crisis from 2019, Maduro has maintained control of Venezuela's governmental and military institutions. The state [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] agencies, as well as the [[Associated Press]], had prior knowledge of the plot, which was intercepted before the first boat reached land. Commentators and observers, including Guaidó officials who initially contracted with Silvercorp, described the operation as amateurish, underfunded, poorly planned, having little or no chance of success, and a suicide mission.
 
The attack went forward despite its impracticality, with Silvercorp founder [[Jordan Goudreau]] possibly motivated by a multi-million dollar [[Bounty (reward)|reward]] offered by the United States to arrest or assist with the arrest of Maduro and his high-ranking officials in connection with [[United States Department of Justice|federal]] [[indictment]]<nowiki/>s filed in late March 2020 alleging [[Cartel of the Suns#Nicolás Maduro|involvement in drug-trafficking activity]]. The raid involved two [[Boat building#Fiberglass|fiberglass]] [[motorboat]]s owned by Silvercorp which launched from eastern [[Colombia]] toward the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]] coast of Venezuela north of Caracas. The boats were carrying approximately 60 Venezuelan dissidents and two American former [[Green Berets]] employed as [[mercenaries]] by Silvercorp. Eight Venezuelan dissidents were killed and seventeen invaders were [[Prisoner of war|captured]], including the two American security contractors, whose [[interrogation]]<nowiki/>s were broadcast on [[State media|state television]] in the hours following the event.
 
After the attack, it became public that a formal document setting out the objective of the operation was signed in October 2019 between Silvercorp and Guaidó's Strategy Committee, which Guaidó had formed with the goal of exploring all available options for removing Maduro from power and installing Guaidó as president. Guaidó's Strategy Committee reportedly withdrew from the agreement and cut off ties with Silvercorp and Goudreau in November 2019. Juan Guaidó, his Strategy Committee, and officials of the Colombian and United States governments have all denied any role in the actual attack that went forward on 3 May 2020.
 
== Background ==
{{main|Venezuelan presidential crisis}}
A power struggle concerning who is the legitimate [[president of Venezuela]] began on 10 January 2019, when the opposition-majority [[National Assembly (Venezuela)|National Assembly]] declared that incumbent [[Nicolás Maduro]]'s [[2018 Venezuelan presidential election|2018 re-election]] was invalid; that the office of the president of Venezuela was therefore vacant; and declared its president, [[Juan Guaidó]], to be [[acting president]] of the nation.<ref name="reutersPompeoside">{{Cite news|last=Nichols|first=Michelle|date=2019-01-26|title=At U.N., Pompeo asks countries to 'pick a side' on Venezuela|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-politics-un-pompeo-pick-idUKKCN1PK0GZ|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> Guaidó has been [[Responses to the Venezuelan presidential crisis|officially recognized]] as the legitimate president of Venezuela by almost 60 governments internationally, including the governments of the United States and Canada; Colombia, Brazil, and the majority of Latin American countries; and the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain, among other European countries.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 January 2019|title=Venezuelan bishops denounce Maduro's new presidential term as illegitimate|publisher=Catholic News Agency|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/venezuelan-bishops-denounce-maduros-new-presidential-term-as-illegitimate-77396|accessdate=8 February 2020}}</ref> Other nations, including Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea and Turkey, have continued to recognize Maduro as the legitimate head of state.<ref name="reutersPompeoside" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Spring|first=Jake|last2=Boadle|first2=Anthony|date=2019-11-14|title=BRICS leaders avoid discussion of Venezuela divisions|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brics-summit-venezuela-idUSKBN1XO2T4|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Rosalba|date=2019-04-30|title=Guaidó vs Maduro: Who is backing whom in Venezuela?|language=en|work=Reuters (Caracas)|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-support-factbox-idUSKCN1S62DY|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>
 
==Planning==
Operation Gideon was primarily planned by [[Clíver Alcalá Cordones]] and [[Jordan Goudreau]].<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /><ref name="globemail12">{{cite news|last1=Freeze|first1=Colin|last2=Dickson|first2=Janice|date=5 May 2020|title=A Canadian-American military man, a failed Venezuela coup and a Twitter video|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|location=[[Toronto]] and [[Ottawa]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-a-canadian-american-military-man-a-failed-venezuela-coup-and-a/|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>
 
Alcalá was a [[Major General]] in the [[Venezuelan Army]] until he defected in 2013 and began gathering [[Venezuelan crisis defection|other defectors]] in Colombia, stationing them in the [[La Guajira Peninsula]].<ref name="APgreen" /> Alcalá was [[International sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis|sanctioned]] in September 2011 by the [[United States Department of the Treasury]] for allegedly helping [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia|FARC]] obtain weapons and [[drug smuggling|smuggle drugs]].<ref>{{cite news|date=8 September 2011|title=US sanctions Venezuelans for alleged Farc links|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-14848240|accessdate=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1295.aspx|publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury|date=8 September 2011|accessdate=3 April 2019|title=Treasury designates four Venezuelan officials for providing arms and security to the FARC}}</ref>
 
Goudreau served in the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] after attending the [[University of Calgary]] from 1994 to 1998, where he studied [[computer science]].<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /><ref name="globemail12" /> He later moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] and enlisted in the [[United States Army]] a few months prior to the [[September 11 attacks]] in [[New York City]], eventually reaching the rank of [[Sergeant first class]] in the [[10th Special Forces Group (United States)|10th Special Forces Group]].<ref name="globemail12" /> He became a [[naturalization|naturalized]] US citizen and retired at the age of 40 due to injuries.<ref name="globemail12" /> In 2018, Goudreau founded Silvercorp USA, with the initial idea being "to embed counter-terror agents in schools disguised as teachers."<ref name="APgreen" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 'mind-blowing' story of the ex-Green Beret who tried to oust Venezuela's Maduro|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/mind-blowing-story-ex-green-beret-who-tried-oust-venezuela-n1201981|last=Schapiro|first=Rich|last2=Emmanuelle|first2=Saliba|date=2020-05-08|website=NBC News|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Goudreau is reported to have provided security at a political rally for [[Donald Trump]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] in October 2018 based on material on the Silvercorp website and Instagram account.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ensor|first=Josie|date=2020-05-06|title=Venezuela 'coup plot leader' provided security at Trump rallies - reports|language=en-GB|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/06/venezuela-coup-plot-leader-provided-security-trump-rallies/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="NYMag-dumbest-aspects">{{Cite magazine|title=The Dumbest Aspects of the Apparent Coup Attempt in Venezuela|date=2020-05-05|magazine=[[New York (magazine)]]|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/dumbest-aspects-of-the-mercenary-coup-plot-in-venezuela.html|last=Stieb|first=Matt|access-date=2020-05-17|}}</ref> In February 2019, Silvercorp provided security services at [[Venezuela Aid Live]], resulting in Goudreau turning his attention to Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-05|title=Venezuela detains two US citizens over speedboat incursion|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52543033|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2020-05-16/mitos-egos-y-torpeza-anatomia-de-un-complot-disparatado-en-venezuela.html|title=Mitos, egos y torpeza: anatomía de un complot disparatado en Venezuela|date=2020-05-16|website=[[El País]]|last=Lafuente|first=Javier|url-status=live|last2=Manetto|first2=Francesco|language=es|trans-title=Myths, egos, and ineptitude: anatomy of ludicrous plot in Venezuela}}</ref> According to Goudreau's friend and business partner, Drew White, he saw a business opportunity in the Trump administration's intensified efforts to remove Maduro from power.<ref name="APgreen" /> White distanced himself from Silvercorp and Goudreau when Goudreau began discussing launching a military operation in Venezuela.<ref name="globemail12" />
 
=== Initial promotion ===
Through connections within the private security community, Goudreau was acquainted with [[Keith Schiller]], the longtime director of security for Donald Trump.<ref name="APgreen" /> Schiller brought Goudreau to a March 2019 fundraising event focused on security in Venezuela, which took place at the [[University Club of Washington, DC]].<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /> {{ill|Lester Toledo|es}}, the director of humanitarian aid for Guaidó's government, was also in attendance.<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="panamstorybehindcontract">{{Cite web|title=Story Behind the Contract: How a Plan to Capture Maduro Was Devised and Scrapped|url=https://panampost.com/orlando-avendano/2020/05/08/story-behind-the-contract-how-a-plan-to-capture-maduro-was-devised-and-scrapped/|last=Avendaño|first=Orlando|date=2020-05-08|website=PanAm Post|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
 
After an unsuccessful [[2019 Venezuelan uprising attempt|uprising attempt]] against Maduro supported by Guaidó on 30 April 2019, some troops who sided with Guaidó subsequently took refuge in Colombia.<ref name="APgreen" /> According to the [[Associated Press]], weeks later, Lester Toledo introduced Goudreau to Major General Clíver Alcalá Cordones at [[JW Marriott Hotels|JW Marriott Bogotá]], where groups of opposition politicians and dissident soldiers held conferences on strategies for accomplishing the removal of Maduro from power.<ref name="APgreen" /> During the two-day meeting with Toledo and Goudreau, Alcalá disclosed that he had recruited some 300 men currently stationed in training camps on the [[Guajira Peninsula]] near [[Riohacha]], Colombia, ready to carry out "a 'mad plan' to push across the western border, take the oil center of [[Maracaibo]] and force their way to Caracas, the capital."<ref name="AP-2US">{{cite news |title=Venezuela: 2 US 'mercenaries' among those nabbed after raid |url=https://apnews.com/fb3b0e84b1d58cb876fd38c7a9493fd5 |last1=Smith |first1=Scott |last2=Goodman |first2=Joshua|accessdate=10 May 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=4 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wapomiamicondo">{{Cite news|title=From a Miami condo to the Venezuelan coast, how a plan to 'capture' Maduro went rogue|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/from-a-miami-condo-to-the-venezuelan-coast-how-a-plan-to-capture-maduro-went-rogue/2020/05/06/046222bc-8e4a-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html|last=Faiola|first=Anthony|date=6 May 2020|work=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> Goudreau indicated that instead of 300 as Alcalá promised, there were only 60 trainees.<ref name="AP-2US" /> Goudreau proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that his company, Silvercorp, could train and equip the soldiers for a rapid strike at a cost of US$1.5 million.<ref name="APgreen" /> Goudreau bragged about having contacts with Trump administration officials, though he did not provide support for his statements.<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" />
 
In May 2019, Keith Schiller and Goudreau met with Guaidó administration officials in [[Miami, Florida]], where Goudreau promoted the idea of providing security for Guaidó officials.<ref name="APgreen" /> Schiller disassociated himself from Goudreau following the meeting, believing that Goudreau was incapable of providing the services he was offering.<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
=== Colombia ===
{{quote box
|text=They were all under the impression that everything was being supported by the U.S., that they've got special [[Delta Force]] commandos working with them and that were part of the presidential bodyguard detail," he said. "I just looked up Jordan's website and Instagram account, and I was like, 'Guys, guys, guys, this guy is not who he says he is.'
|width = 33%
|align = right
|author=Ephraim Mattos, as reported in ''The Washington Post''&nbsp;<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" />
}}
In June 2019, Alcalá met with the [[National Intelligence Directorate (Colombia)|National Intelligence Directorate]] of Colombia asking for support, claiming Goudreau was a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent. However, the Colombians' CIA contacts in Bogotá reportedly denied that Goudreau had ever been a CIA agent.<ref name="APgreen" /> The Colombians allegedly threatened Alcalá with deportation if he continued discussing an invasion of Venezuela.<ref name="APgreen" />{{Failed verification|date=May 2020|reason=No mention of deportation.}} US officials learned of the militants in Colombia and discussed a plan to organize them to assist victims of the [[Venezuelan refugee crisis]], thus diverting them from illegal activities.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> When reports emerged that they might be used for an armed operation, one anonymous US official described the notion as "completely insane."<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
By 16 June 2019, Goudreau had compiled a list of required equipment, according to former [[United States Navy SEALs|United States Navy SEAL]] Ephraim Mattos, who met with Alcalá's troops while working in Colombia.<ref name="APgreen" /> The list included "320 [[M4 carbine|M4]] assault rifles, an anti-tank rocket launcher, [[Zodiac boat]]s, US$1 million in cash and state-of-the-art night vision goggles."<ref name="APgreen" /> The trainees reportedly believed they had the backing of the U.S. government.<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Ex-Green Beret captured in Venezuela believed U.S. backed overthrow plot: family|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latin-america/ex-green-beret-captured-venezuela-believed-u-s-backed-overthrow-n1208471|last=Schapiro|first=Rich|date=2020-05-16|access-date=2020-05-18|url-status=live|work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>
 
=== General Services Agreement ===
[[File:Silvercorp-Guaidó General Services Agreement (Main).pdf|thumb|right|300|page=7|The General Services Agreement document that was allegedly signed by Guaidó.<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous">{{Cite web|title=The "ridiculous" failed coup attempt in Venezuela, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/5/11/21249203/venezuela-coup-jordan-goudreau-maduro-guaido-explain|last=Ward|first=Alex|date=2020-05-11|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> Guaidó has denied he signed the agreement and accused the Maduro government of [[Signature forgery|forgery]].<ref name="EVTV-Guaido-interview-set-up">{{Cite web|title=Presidente Guaidó: El montaje de la dictadura fue para generar victimización internacional y persecución interna
|language=es|trans-title=President Guaidó: The dictator's set-up was to generate international victimization and internal persecution |url=https://evtvmiami.com/presidente-guaido-el-montaje-de-la-dictadura-fue-para-generar-victimizacion-internacional-y-persecucion-interna/|last=|first=|date=11 May 2020|website=EVTV|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gobierno encargado de Venezuela alerta que régimen usa documento falso para intentar secuestrar al Presidente (e) Guaidó y desmiente firma de supuesto documento|url=https://asambleanacionalvenezuela.org/noticias/gobierno-encargado-de-venezuela-alerta-que-regimen-usa-documento-falso-para-intentar-secuestrar-al-presidente-e-guaido-y-desmiente-firma-de-supuesto-documento|date=2020-05-06|website=Asamblea Nacional|language=Spanish|trans-title=Acting government of Venezuela warns that the regime is using a false document to try to abduct President (''pro tempore'') Guaidó and denies alleged document|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>]]
 
In August 2019, Guaidó established a Strategic Committee and named J.J. Rendón as the General Strategist.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://htr.noticierodigital.com/2019/08/guaido-anuncio-constitucion-comite-estrategia-incluye-jj-rendon/ | title = Guaidó anunció constitución de Comité de Estrategia que incluye a JJ Rendón | date = 2019-08-15}}</ref> The Strategic Committee was tasked with exploring possibilities and testing scenarios for the removal of Maduro from office, with methods ranging from increased international condemnation of Maduro to armed action.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> In August 2019, shortly after the formation of Guaidó's Strategic Committee, Maduro stated there was a "plan ... to get 32 mercenaries into Venezuela to kill me and to kill Venezuelan revolutionary leaders."<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" />
 
Rendón stated that his orders upon being named as General Strategist were to consider every option, quoting Guaidó as "saying all options were on the table, and under the table."<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /><ref name="Rendón-conclusiones">{{Cite interview|last=J.J.|first=Rendón|interviewer=[[Fernando del Rincón]]|title=J.J. Rendón habla sobre la Operación Gedeón|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/05/07/j-j-rendon-habla-sobre-la-operacion-gedeon-en-conclusiones-de-cnn-en-espanol/|publisher=CNN en Español (Conclusiones)|date=2020-05-07|trans-title=J.J. Rendón talks about Operation Gideon}}</ref> Among the scenarios considered by the group was the removal of Maduro by capturing him and his high-ranking officials and sending them to another country for prosecution.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> The Committee studied the "[[Hostis humani generis|universal enemy]]" doctrine and analyzed the unsuccessful [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]] of Cuba in April 1961.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> The Strategic Committee adopted the position that the Venezuelan Constitution, the [[United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime]], and other treaties constituted legal justification for taking action to remove Maduro.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
{{quote box
|text=[T]hey also studied the possibility of effectively kidnapping Maduro and his close associates. The effort involved speaking to more than a dozen attorneys about the legalities of such a mission, Rendón said. They looked at the "universal enemy" argument — once used to prosecute pirates — that [[Adolf Eichmann#Trial|formed the basis]] of some [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] [[Extraordinary rendition|renditions]] after [[World War II]]. They compiled a dossier on the failed Bay of Pigs attempt to liberate Cuba from the government of Fidel Castro.
|width = 25%
|align = left
|author=''The Washington Post''&nbsp;<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
}}
 
Rendón told the Washington Post that the Strategic Committee had contacted numerous groups about ousting Maduro, but they demanded prices from US$500 million<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> to US$1.5 billion.<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" /> Goudreau then made contact with Rendón on 7 September 2019 at a condominium in Miami, where Goudreau made a [[sales pitch]], proposing the capture of Maduro and his officials and their extraction from Venezuela.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> Goudreau offered a self-financed plan at a cheaper cost of $212.9 million, [[Collateralized debt obligation|backed]] by future oil sales.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /><ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" /> According to a source interviewed by the [[PanAm Post]], Goudreau claimed he needed a signed agreement from the interim government in order to raise funds, but the opposition representatives initially put him off.<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /> On 10 October 2019, Goudreau [[text messaging|text messaged]] Rendón saying, "Washington is fully aware of your direct participation in the project and I don't want them to lose faith."<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> Further text messages displayed Maduro's inner circle warehouses filled with US dollars; Goudreau was offered 14% of funds recovered during the operation.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
A 41-page document containing various attachments of the General Services agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., on 16 October 2019, by Jordan Goudreau on behalf of Silvercorp and J.J. Rendón and Sergio Vergara on behalf of the Guaidó administration. Rendón described the agreement as a "trial balloon" and a test of what Goudreau could do that was never officially implemented.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> The language of the agreement of "Operation Resolution" expressly stipulated that the end objective was to forcibly remove Maduro and to install Guaidó as president of Venezuela.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> Within a week of signing the agreement, Goudreau reported back to the opposition that he had secured funding for the operation, but provided no proof.<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /><ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
[[File:Silvercorp-Guaidó General Services Agreement Attachments.pdf|thumb|right|width=300|page=41|The General Services Agreement Attachments signed between Guaidó government officials and Silvercorp USA in October 2019. Vergara and Rendón, who have since resigned their positions on the Strategy Committee, acknowledge they signed the agreement and the attachments.<ref name="Rendón-conclusiones" /><ref name="talcual-contract">{{Cite web|url=https://talcualdigital.com/esto-es-lo-que-dice-el-contrato-firmado-por-estrategas-de-guaido-y-silvercorp/|title=Esto es lo que dice el contrato firmado por estrategas de Guaidó y Silvercorp|date=2020-05-08|last=Amaya|first=Víctor|url-status=live|publisher=[[Tal Cual]]|language=es|trans-title=This is what the contract signed by Guaidó strategists and Silvercorp says}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg-resign">{{Cite web|title=Guaidó Aides Resign Posts After Botched Invasion of Venezuela|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv2.html?vid=&uuid=52f26e50-95cf-11ea-a807-f5d425aca3d2&url=L2FtcC9uZXdzL2FydGljbGVzLzIwMjAtMDUtMTEvZ3VhaWRvLWFpZGVzLXJlc2lnbi1wb3N0cy1hZnRlci1ib3RjaGVkLWludmFzaW9uLW9mLXZlbmV6dWVsYQ==|last=Vasquez|first=Alex|date=|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-14|quote=Documents released by Goudreau show what seems to be Guaidó's signature on a preliminary contract and a video in which he spoke with him at least once.}}</ref>]]In the agreement's attachments, [[rules of engagement]] (ROE) were drafted that included the protection of Venezuela's cultural sites, unless used for illicit activity, and the targeting of infrastructure and economic objectives.<ref name="talcual-contract" /><ref name="waporeadattachments">{{Cite news|date=7 May 2020|title=Read the attachments to the General Services Agreement between the Venezuelan opposition and Silvercorp|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/read-the-attachments-to-the-general-services-agreement-between-the-venezuelan-opposition-and-silvercorp/e67f401f-8730-4f66-af53-6a9549b88f94/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> The ROE also designated numerous enemies: [[Nicolás Maduro]], [[Diosdado Cabello]], their supporters, [[Colectivo (Venezuela)|colectivos]], the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] (FARC), the [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]] (ELN), and [[Hezbollah]].<ref name="talcual-contract" /><ref name="waporeadattachments" /> Also included in the agreement's ROE were [[riot control]] guidelines, permitting the use of non-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets, [[tear gas]], shields and batons against any person who became "unruly" and attacked operatives.<ref name="talcual-contract" /> The contract also permitted Silvercorp to detain civilians on [[reasonable suspicion]].<ref name="talcual-contract" /><ref name="waporeadattachments" /> The agreement also established a [[chain of command]]: Juan Guaidó as [[commander-in-chief]], Sergio Vergara as overall project supervisor, and J.J. Rendón as [[chief strategy officer]].<ref name="talcual-contract" /><ref name="waporeadattachments" /> The agreement was signed by Rendón, Vergara, Goudreau, and Manuel J. Retureta, a Cuban-born attorney based in Washington who signed as a witness.<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" /><ref name="waporeadattachments" /> It has been reported that Juan Guaidó himself also signed the contract, which he and his allies have denied.<ref name="EVTV-Guaido-interview-set-up" /><ref name="MiamiHerald-Guaido-center">{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=15 May 2020|title=Letter and contract put Guaidó at center of failed Venezuelan raid to oust Maduro|work=[[The Miami Herald]]|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article242767041.html|url-status=live|access-date=|quote=In an interview with CNN en Español, J.J. Rendón, a colorful Venezuelan campaign adviser and opposition strategist, said that on Oct. 16, 2019, Guaidó had signed a “preliminary” contract with Silvercorp.}}</ref>
 
Rendón told reporters that shortly after signing the agreement, Goudreau began acting suspicious, failing to provide evidence of financial backing, the armed support of 800 men, and demanded immediate payment of the $1.5 million retainer that was due within a five-day period according to the agreement.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /><ref name="waporeadattachments" /> Rendón transferred Goudreau $50,000 for "expenses" to buy more time, but the relationship between the two quickly deteriorated.<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /><ref name="wapomiamicondo" /><ref name="runrunes-Gedeon-Macutazo">{{Cite web|url=https://runrun.es/rr-es-plus/407981/operacion-gedeon-o-macutazo-un-desembarco-de-versiones-incongruentes/|title=Operación Gedeón o Macutazo: Un desembarco de versiones incongruentes|date=2020-05-17|access-date=2020-05-17|website=[[Runrunes]]|last=Fermín|first=Yeannaly|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Operation Gideon or Macutazo: A landing of inconsistent stories}}</ref>
 
On November 8, 2019, Goudreau met Rendón at the latter's condominium, where a heated argument took place.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> A witness to the argument at Rendón's condominium reported that "Jordan came to the apartment very upset, complaining about the alleged breach of the agreement. He demanded payment immediately, or he would screw everything up."<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /> Witnesses also reported that Goudreau threatened to join forces with [[Chavismo|Chavista]] businessmen if Rendón failed to pay, referring to supporters of the regime currently in power, and warning Rendón that "Whoever pays is in charge."<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /> According to Rendón, he and other opposition officials "considered the operation dead" after this encounter in early November.<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="wapomiamicondo" /><ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
==== Controversy over Guaidó's alleged signature ====
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Goudreau provided a copy of a General Services Agreement purporting to bear the signature of Juan Guaidó himself.<ref name="MiamiHerald-Guaido-center" /> Guaidó and his allies have denied that Guaidó signed the document, insisting that Rendón and Vergara signed on Guaidó's behalf.<ref name="ND-Guaido-insiste-falsificaron">{{Cite web|url=https://www.noticierodigital.com/2020/05/guaido-insiste-en-que-falsificaron-su-firma-en-el-supuesto-contrato-con-silvercorp/|title=Guaidó insiste en que falsificaron su firma en el contrato con Silvercorp|date=2020-05-11|website=[[Noticiero Digital]]}}</ref>
 
A report in ''The Washington Post'' described the dispute over who signed the contract, or what parts of the contract, as follows:
 
{{Quote|text=Goudreau counters that the agreement — supplied in part to The Post by Goudreau, with a more complete version provided by Rendón — bound the opposition to his services and initial fee. A seven-page document provided by Goudreau carries Guaidó's signature, along with those of Rendón and fellow opposition official Sergio Vergara.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />}}
 
{{external media
|width=250px
|video1={{YouTube|id=VMtFdPJu6BU|title=Alleged audio of Guaidó reportedly discussing his signing of the agreement, which was released by the Maduro government}}.<br>'''Note''': Juan Guaidó has publicly alleged the audio is falsified and does not depict any conversation he participated in.<ref name="EVTV-Guaido-interview-set-up" />
}}
 
In the days following the operation, Goudreau disclosed what purported to be a copy of a contract containing Guaidó's signature,<ref name="bloomberg-resign" /> whose first and last page were missing,<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella" /> along with a covert recording supposedly depicting Guaidó in a video call on 16 October 2019 with Goudreau.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> On the recording, Guaidó purportedly says, "We are doing the right thing for our country" and "I'm about to sign."<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
Guaidó and his allies have repeatedly insisted that Guaidó did not sign any contract with Silvercorp and never spoke with Jordan Goudreau directly or in a video or telephone call.<ref name="Rendón-conclusiones" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Guaidó se desvincula de presunta incursión militar contra Maduro|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/venezuela/comunicado-de-guaido-a-las-acusaciones-de-maduro-sobre-plan-para-derrocarlo-491520|last=Itriago|first=Andreína|date=2020-05-04|website=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]]|language=es|trans-title=Guaidó disassociates himself from alleged military incursion against Maduro|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=El gobierno interino de Venezuela denunció que la dictadura de Nicolás Maduro intenta utilizar la Operación Gedeón para secuestrar a Juan Guaidó|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/05/06/el-gobierno-interino-de-venezuela-denuncio-que-la-dictadura-de-nicolas-maduro-intenta-utilizar-la-operacion-gedeon-para-secuestrar-a-juan-guaido/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-06|website=infobae|language=es|trans-title=Interim government charged that Nicolas Maduro dictatorship is attempting to use Operation Gideon to abduct Juan Guaidó|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> In a statement on EVTV following the incident, Guaidó stated "That is not my signature. The dictatorship goes to great lengths to plant evidence."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guaidó acusa a Diosdado Cabello de financiar la "Operación Gedeón"|url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-guaido-acusa-diosdado-cabello-financiar-operacion-gedeon-202005130203_noticia.html|last=|first=|date=13 May 2020|website=[[ABC (Spain)|ABC]]|language=es|trans-title=Guaidó accuses Diosdado Cabello of financing "Operation Gideon"|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref> Guaidó's National Assembly described the document supposedly bearing his Guaidó's signature as a "false document as justification to try and kidnap and illegally detain the interim president Juan Guaidó."<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
{{ill|Hernán Alemán (politician)|lt=Hernán Alemán|es|Hernán Alemán}}, a politician from the opposition party [[Democratic Action (Venezuela)|Acción Democrática]] from [[Zulia]] who described Goudreau as "an extraordinary man and friend with extraordinary skills" and "even spent Christmas with Jordan, somewhere in Colombia," indicated in an interview following the event that he did not know about any details surrounding the contract or the discussions that took place in the United States.<ref name="contrapunto-not-magnicide" />
 
When first asked about his contacts with Silvercorp by the AP, Rendón said that this information was confidential and that he could not confirm or deny signing a contract, even if it existed.<ref name="APgreen" /> Subsequently, Rendón stated that Guaidó had signed a "preliminary" agreement with Silvercorp.<ref name="MiamiHerald-Guaido-center" /> Ultimately, Rendón insisted that the document Goudreau produced was never signed by Guaidó and provided previous and subsequent agreements to ''The Washington Post'' that did not bear Guaidó's signature, saying that Guaidó knew only the rough outlines of an "exploratory plan" but grew suspicious of Goudreau based on the reports of the committee.<ref name="wapomiamicondo" /> Rendón said that "We were all having red flags, and the president was not comfortable with this."<ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
=== Alcalá and Goudreau resume preparations===
Goudreau and Alcalá reportedly distanced themselves from the Venezuelan opposition due to their perception that the opposition was insincere and hypocritical because of alleged secret negotiations with the Maduro government.<ref name="APgreen" /> Though Alcalá and Goudreau no longer had the support of the opposition government, they resumed their preparations to go forward with the plot.<ref name="APgreen" /> Without aid from the US government or the Guaidó administration, Goudreau and Alcalá did not have the means required for a successful operation.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
By December 2019, Silvercorp had purchased a {{Convert|41|ft|m|adj=on}} fiberglass boat in Florida that was equipped with navigational equipment two months later.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> In January 2020, two other former Green Beret operators, Airan Berry and Luke Denman, arrived in Colombia.<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /> According to an article published by the PanAm Post on 26 May 2020, the three Americans traveled to Colombia on a private flight from Opa-Locka, Florida, to Barranquilla, Colombia, on 16 January 2020, arriving at approximately 10:30 a.m.<ref name="PanAm-Avion-privado">{{cite web |last1=Avendaño |first1=Orlando |title=Mercenario Goudreau viajó a Colombia en avión privado de contratista del chavismo |url=https://es.panampost.com/orlando-avendano/2020/05/26/mercenario-goudreau-viajo-a-colombia-en-avion-privado-de-contratista-del-chavismo/ |publisher=[[PanAm Post]] |date=2020-06-26|accessdate=2020-05-27|language=es}} ([https://panampost.com/orlando-avendano/2020/05/26/ex-green-beret-behind-venezuela-raid-traveled-to-colombia-on-private-aircraft-linked-to-chavismo/ English translation])</ref> The PanAm Post reported that the passenger list for the flight "included a high-ranking Venezuelan government official, Yacsy Alezandra Álvarez Mirabal, who, according to OpenCorporates, is the director of Lubricantes VENOCO de Centroamérica, a Venezuelan state-owned company attached to [[PDVSA]]."<ref name="PanAm-Avion-privado" />
 
In March 2020, Goudreau traveled to [[Jamaica]] in the Silvercorp-owned fiberglass boat where he met with former special forces friends and discussed Operation Gideon.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> According to Jack Murphy, self-identified as a former [[United States Army Rangers|US Ranger]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] learned about the plan and warned Silvercorp not to go through with it on numerous occasions.<ref name="Connecting-Vets-recruit">{{Cite news|last=Murphy|first=Jack|date=2020-05-05|title=Ex-Green Berets tried to recruit this vet for a failed coup. Now he's speaking out.|work=Connecting Vets|url=https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/ex-green-berets-bungle-coup-attempt-in-venezuela|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref name="PanAm-flight-roster">{{Cite web|title=¿Quiénes son los norteamericanos de la operación Gedeón capturados por Maduro?|url=https://es.panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2020/05/05/norteamericanos-capturados-maduro/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-05|website=[[PanAm Post]]|language=es|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The Wall Street Journal reported that the planned operation was "widely known to former Venezuelan soldiers who considered participating, Venezuelan opposition figures, senior Colombian intelligence officials and even the CIA, which monitored their activities in La Guajira, said the people with knowledge of the plans."<ref name="wsj-Barely-hidden">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/poorly-organized-and-barely-hidden-venezuela-invasion-was-doomed-to-fail-11589122800|title=Poorly Organized and Barely Hidden, Venezuela Invasion Was Doomed to Fail|date=2020-05-10|last=Forero|first=Juan|url-status=live|publisher=Wall Street Journal|last2=Vyas|first2=Kejal}}</ref>
 
Speaking after the attack, Goudreau stated the operation was forced to rely on "donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service [[Uber]] in Colombia" because he was not paid by Guaidó's team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Green Beret Claims He Led Failed Raid Into Venezuela|url=https://time.com/5831572/venezuela-raid-green-beret/|website=Time|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> "It’s almost like crowdfunded the liberating of a country," Goudreau reportedly told the AP.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
In an interview after the operation, Hernán Alemán stated that Rendón never financed the operation and that he and Alcalá undertook the operation with Goudreau without his party's knowledge.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" /> According to Alemán, he and Alcalá took it upon themselves to finance the operation.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" /><ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> Alemán said that at its peak, the group consisted of four camps occupied by 150 militants.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" />
 
In the weeks leading up to the attack, many militants reportedly began to abandon the operation when Goudreau's promises failed to materialize and due to rumors that Maduro had infiltrated the operation.<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" />
 
Alemán said the operation was compromised and had been infiltrated, saying that after Alcalá's arrest, the operation's control was transferred to other people, there was no contact with the new leaders, and the rest of the mercenaries supposedly still in hiding in Venezuela have claimed Captain Antonio Sequea was a mole.<ref name="talcual-Aleman-nobody-financed" />
 
=== Extradition of Alcalá to the United States ===
[[File:Clíver Alcalá Cordones.jpg|thumb|[[Clíver Alcalá Cordones]]]]
 
A shipment of weapons and tactical gear was confiscated on 23 March 2020 by Colombian authorities tipped off by the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA), with former DEA officials initially believing that the equipment was being sent to leftist guerrillas.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /><ref name="APgreen" /> The impounded truck was headed for Venezuela carrying 26 [[semi-automatic rifle]]s, [[night vision goggles]], radios, and 15 [[combat helmet]]s produced by High-End Defense Solutions, a company owned by [[Venezuelan Americans]].<ref name="APgreen" /><ref name="FTfoiledplot">{{Cite news|title=Mystery surrounds foiled 'plot' to liberate Venezuela|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0f52198e-0e17-4890-a6e7-159a510a0e34|last=Long|first=Gideon|date=4 April 2020|work=[[Financial Times]]|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref>
 
On 26 March 2020, the United States accused Maduro of narcoterrorism and through the [[Narcotics Rewards Program]], offered a US$15 million reward for information leading to his arrest, plus an additional US$10 million each for information leading to the arrest of four close Maduro allies: [[Diosdado Cabello]], [[Maikel Moreno]], [[Tareck El Aissami]], [[Vladimir Padrino López]] and Cilver Alcalá, one of the alleged leaders of the operation.<ref>[https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/03/26/estados-unidos-sancionara-al-regimen-de-nicolas-maduro-por-sus-vinculos-con-el-narcoterrorismo-internacional/ The United States accused Nicolás Maduro of narco-terrorism and offered USD 15 million for data leading to his arrest] {{in lang|es}} Infobae, 26 Mar 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A defiant Maduro threatens 'cowboy' Trump after drug charge|url=https://apnews.com/2ceb488313ebb3334f64f6ad705e33b8|last=Goodman|first=Joshua|last2=Smith|first2=Scott|date=2020-03-27|website=Associated Press (Miami)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=US indicts Venezuela's Maduro on narcoterrorism charges|url=https://apnews.com/d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f|last=Goodman|first=Joshua|last2=Smith|first2=Scott|date=2020-03-26|website=Associated Press (Miami)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|title=Nicolás Maduro Moros and 14 Current and Former Venezuelan Officials Charged with Narco-Terrorism, Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Criminal Charges|publisher=United States Department of Justice|date=26 March 2020|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicol-s-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism|location=Office of Public Affairs}}</ref>
 
Alcalá assumed responsibility on 26 March for "a military operation against the Maduro dictatorship" that included the shipment of weapons captured in Colombia, stating that the United States, Colombia, and Guaidó officials had signed an agreement to overthrow Maduro.<ref name="FTfoiledplot" /> After Alcalá assumed responsibility for the weapons shipment, the Colombian attorney general announced on 28 March that an investigation into Alcalá's role in the shipment had been opened.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fiscalía colombiana investiga a Clíver Alcalá|url=https://www.el-carabobeno.com/fiscalia-colombiana-investiga-a-cliver-alcala/|date=2020-03-29|website=El Carabobeño|language=es|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
 
Guaidó denied knowledge of the event while United States Special Representative to Venezuela [[Elliott Abrams]] described Alcalá's statement as "despicable and quite dangerous." Abrams later said that Alcalá "was put up to making those terrible charges by the [Maduro] regime."<ref name="FTfoiledplot" /> Alcalá was extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges after voluntarily surrendering on about 27 March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cliver Alcalá se entregó a la DEA y fue extraditado a EEUU|url=https://www.noticierodigital.com/2020/03/cliver-alcala-habria-sido-extraditado-a-eeuu-en-un-avion-de-la-dea-segun-celia-mendoza/|date=27 March 2020|agency=Reuters|work=Noticiero Digital|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-03-28|title=Alleged Maduro accomplice surrenders to U.S. agents, will help prosecution: sources|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-venezuela-dea-exclusive-idUSKBN21E3IQ|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> The Venezuelan government said that Alcalá was a US agent and that, after the operation failed, the United States government used narcoterrorism charges as a way to transport him to the United States to prevent him from revealing more secrets.<ref name="FTfoiledplot" />
 
In the context of reacting to the intercepted shipment on 26 March, Maduro stated during a press release that Alcalá was hired by the DEA to assassinate him, "but he failed because we made him fail."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eluniversal.com/politica/65720/maduro-a-donald-trump-por-acusaciones-eres-un-miserable|title=Maduro a Donald Trump, tras acusaciones: "Eres un miserable"|date=2020-03-26|access-date=2020-05-18|website=[[El Universal (Caracas)]]|last=Barrios|first=Sarah|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Maduro to Donald Trump, following accusations (indictments): "You are a wretch."}}</ref>
 
According to Hernán Alemán, who admits to participating in the planning of the operation up until the point Alcalá was extradited to the United States, Sequea took control of the operation and replaced militants.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" /> Alemán remarked that Goudreau was unable to exercise command because he was in the United States.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" /> Alemán, saying he was basing his statements on mercenaries who stayed behind in the boats, accused Sequea of being a mole and of selling the militants out.<ref name="ND-Hernan-Aleman-Averiguare" />
 
=== Prior knowledge of Maduro government ===
Maduro's officials had advance knowledge of minute details of Goudreau and Alcalá's plans.''The Washington Post'' wrote that Maduro "was well-informed of the effort virtually from its start."<ref name="WAPO-Faiola-How" /> Two days after the confiscation of weapons and munitions in Colombia, on 25 March, the Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information, Jorge Rodríguez gave a televised press conference in which he published details related to the training camps. Rodríguez named Robert Colina Ybarra, whom he identified as a murderer, as the leader of one of the training sites with the support of Colombian President [[Iván Duque]]. (Ybarra was later killed during the operation.) <ref name="CNN-esp-MaduroKnew">{{Cite news|title=Gobierno de Maduro sabía de la incursión a Venezuela al menos un mes antes de que ocurriera|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/05/11/gobierno-de-maduro-sabia-de-la-incursion-a-venezuela-al-menos-un-mes-antes-de-que-ocurriera/|last=Meza|first=Alfredo|date=2020-05-11|access-date=2020-05-16|url-status=live|work=[[CNN en Español]]|last2=Weffer Cifuentes|first2=Laura|language=es|trans-title=Maduro government knew of incursion into Venezuela at least a month before it occurred}}</ref> Rodríguez went on to mention that there were three American instructors at the training camps.<ref name="CNN-esp-MaduroKnew" /> "We know their cover names: agent Jordan, agent Luke, and agent Aaron," Rodríguez announced.<ref name="CNN-esp-MaduroKnew" />
 
On 28 March, [[Diosdado Cabello]] identified Jordan Goudreau as an adviser for Alcalá during episode 294 of the show [[Con El Mazo Dando]], which aired on state-owned [[Venezolana de Televisión]].<ref name="runrunes-Gedeon-Macutazo" /><ref name="runrun-Mazo">{{Cite web|url=https://runrun.es/rr-es-plus/406661/huella-digital-jordan-goudreau-dejo-todas-las-opciones-sobre-un-penero/|title=Huella digital: Jordan Goudreau dejó todas las opciones sobre un peñero|date=2020-05-11|access-date=2020-05-15|website=runrun.es|last=Coscojuela|first=Sarai|url-status=live|publisher=[[Runrunes]]|trans-title=Fingerprint (Digital Footprint): Jordan Goudreau left all options on a fishing boat}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.correodelcaroni.com/nacional/5314-el-caso-de-la-operacion-gedeon-estremecio-la-movediza-arena-politica-venezolana|title=El caso de la "Operación Gedeón" estremeció la movediza arena política venezolana|date=2020-05-15|access-date=2020-05-18|website={{ill|Correo del Caroní|es}}|last=Guerra|first=Carlos|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=The case of "Operation Gideon" shifted the Venezuelan political quicksand}}</ref> Cabello also identified by first name the two Americans who were eventually captured during the foiled plot. Cabello referred to the Americans only as "Luke" and "Aaron" [phonetic spelling] as special forces operatives allegedly training dissidents in Colombia for an armed invasion into Venezuela, without specifying their last names.<ref name="runrun-Mazo" /> Cabello also exhibited photographs purportedly showing Goudreau, Silvercorp and content from their social media profiles.<ref name="runrun-Mazo" /> The program also showed photographs from Instagram depicting Goudreau providing security services during the Venezuela Aid Live concert in [[Cúcuta]] and at a Trump rally in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].<ref name="runrunes-Gedeon-Macutazo" /><ref name="runrun-Mazo" /> The purpose of broadcasting the images was to show that the United States was allegedly behind the international effort to remove Maduro from power and was conspiring with narcotics traffickers, referring to Alcalá.<ref name="runrun-Mazo" /> During the program, Cabello thanked "{{ill|cooperating compatriots|es|Patriota cooperante}}" for the information on Goudreau and the training camps in Colombia.<ref name="runrun-Mazo" /> The program also exhibited excerpts from various media organizations discussing the alleged contract between Guaidó and Silvercorp, with [[Patricia Poleo]] of the US-based Factores de Poder political analysis platform explicitly stating that she confirmed there existed a written contract regarding an operation organized from within Colombia, with the knowledge of the Colombian government, signed by Juan Guaidó, JJ Rendón, Sergio Vergara, and "American advisers" (''asesores americanos''), a statement Alcalá had made days earlier.<ref name="runrun-Mazo" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Clíver Alcalá, exmilitar venezolano, ya está en EE. UU. custodiado por la DEA|url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/el-mundo/cliver-alcala-exmilitar-venezolano-ya-esta-en-ee-uu-custodiado-por-la-dea-articulo-911760|date=2020-03-28|website=ELESPECTADOR.COM|language=ES|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
 
After news of the event broke, Maduro was explicit about the level of insider knowledge his government had, saying in his first public appearance: "We knew everything: what they were talking about, what they ate, what they drank, what they didn't drink, who financed them."<ref name="CNN-esp-MaduroKnew" /><ref name="EClosabiamaduro">{{Cite web|title="Lo sabíamos todo", dice Maduro sobre incursión en Macuto|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/lo-sabiamos-todo-dice-maduro-sobre-incursion-en-macuto-y-anuncia-detencion-de-13-personas/|date=2020-05-05|website=Efecto Cocuyo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref>
 
=== Caribbean Sea incidents ===
[[File:Arbv GC23.jpg|thumb|The [[Venezuelan patrol boat Naiguatá|''Naiguatá'' (GC-23)]], which sank after [[RCGS Resolute#2020 collision with Venezuelan patrol boat Naiguatá|colliding with the ''RCGS Resolute'']] while searching for mercenaries, according to the Maduro government]]
 
On 28 March, as Goudreau was preparing for the attack, the fiberglass boat was damaged and an [[emergency position-indicating radio beacon]] was triggered.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> Authorities in [[Curaçao]] rescued Goudreau and returned him to Florida, with public health measures in place due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] delaying Goudreau from traveling again.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
Two days later on 30 March, the [[Venezuelan patrol boat Naiguatá|Venezuelan patrol boat ''Naiguatá'']] sank after engaging and colliding with the ''[[RCGS Resolute]]'' cruise ship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Venezuela navy vessel sinks after 'ramming cruise ship'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52151951|date=3 April 2020|work=BBC News|accessdate=6 April 2020}}</ref> Venezuela alleged that the Portuguese-flagged ''RCGS Resolute'' was carrying mercenaries to attack the country's military bases and that the ship's inflatable Zodiac boats were intended to transport them to shore.<ref>{{cite news|title=Venezuelan Navy Retweets Questionable 'Evidence' In Cruise Ship Case|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/04/05/venezuelan-navy-retweets-questionable-evidence-in-resolute-case/#6363ebc77a2d|last=Sutton|first=H.I.|date=5 April 2020|work=Forbes|accessdate=6 April 2020}}</ref> According to its operator [[Columbia Cruise Services]], the ''RCGS Resolute'' had a crew of 32 on board, but was not carrying passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.columbia-cs.com/statement-on-rcgs-resolute-incident/|title=Statement on RCGS RESOLUTE incident|website=Columbia Cruise Services|date=1 April 2020|accessdate=7 May 2020}}</ref> Maduro stated on 1 April that ''RCGS Resolute'' had "mercenaries" aboard destined to attack Venezuela.<ref name="bellingcat2">{{Cite web|title=The Venezuela/Silvercorp USA Saga Keeps Getting Weirder|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/05/07/the-venezuela-silvercorp-usa-saga-keeps-getting-weirder/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-07|website=[[bellingcat]]|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref> The head of the [[Strategic Command Operations of Venezuela]], [[Remigio Ceballos]], tweeted on 2 April "The cruise ship RCGS Resolute has on board no fewer than 6 inflatable boats to move a minimum of seven commandos (42) to carry out incursions."<ref name="bellingcat2" /> On 6 April, the Office for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and the Aeronautical Meteorology Authority ({{lang|pt|Gabinete de Investigação de Acidentes Marítimos e da Autoridade para a Meteorologia Aeronáutica}} or GAMA) of Portugal released a technical investigation report on the incident, reaching the conclusion that the collision was caused by deliberate action on the part of the ''Naiguatá'' crew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gama.mm.gov.pt/images/Relatorios_Tecnicos/2020-065_RCGS_RESOLUTE.pdf|title=Relatório de Investigação Técnica / Investigation report|language=Portuguese|publisher=Gabinete de Investigação de Acidentes Marítimos e da Autoridade para a Meteorologia Aeronáutica (GAMA)|date=6 April 2020|accessdate=10 April 2020}}</ref>
 
In an interview with ''[[Al Mayadeen]]'' on 12 April 2020, Remigio Ceballos alleged that the ''RCGS Resolute'' attempted to "plant mercenaries" in Venezuela.<ref name="MisionVerdad">{{Cite web|title=Macuto: un nuevo capítulo frustrado de la vía armada contra Venezuela|url=https://medium.com/@misionverdad2012/macuto-un-nuevo-cap%C3%ADtulo-frustrado-de-la-v%C3%ADa-armada-contra-venezuela-8229a12ca9f9|last=|first=|date=2020-05-03|website=Misión Verdad|publisher=Medium|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref> The Maduro government's ''Misión Verdad'' would write in May 2020 that the ''RCGS Resolute'' incident was possibly linked to US operations in Curaçao and the attack.<ref name="MisionVerdad" />
 
When discussing the attack, [[Bellingcat]] stated "While there is no evidence that the RCGS Resolute was in any way involved in 'Operación Gedeón', the Venezuelan government's statements following the sinking of the Naiguatá suggest that they were on high alert for a seaborne incursion into Venezuela by one or more small teams of mercenaries."<ref name="bellingcat2" /> ''[[Caracas Chronicles]]'' wrote that the ''RCGS Resolute'' incident "shows how tense the Venezuelan Navy has been around the idea of a maritime armed incursion."<ref name="CCmacutazo">{{Cite web|title=The Macutazo: Timeline of an Absurd Military Adventure|url=https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2020/05/05/the-macutazo-timeline-of-an-absurd-military-adventure/|date=2020-05-05|website=Caracas Chronicles|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>
 
=== Final preparations, Associated Press article ===
In the final days of April 2020, Rendón was contacted by Silvercorp's legal advisors demanding a payment of US$1.45 million, with Guaidó's officials reacting to the demands in fear, believing they were being blackmailed for money with the threat of the cancelled plans being revealed to the public.<ref name="panamstorybehindcontract" /><ref name="wapomiamicondo" />
 
The AP published an article on 1 May 2020 about Goudreau, his plan and its history, and his training camps, writing that the plans to attack Venezuela were "far-fetched" and that people who knew him believed he was "in way over his head."<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella" /> The article suggested that the Maduro government may have known of the plan since late-March 2020, but certainly knew by 1 May.<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella" /> Maduro confirmed that he knew of the plan by the evening of 1 May, and said that it had been initially planned for 10 March, but postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="EClosabiamaduro" /> By the time of the attack, many of the mercenaries had abandoned their camps following the arrest of Alcalá, investigations by Colombian authorities, and the growing pandemic.<ref name="APgreen" /> It has been suggested that Goudreau went ahead with the attack despite its poor planning because he was seeking the US$15 million reward that the US government placed on Maduro.<ref name="guardianTrumpdenies">{{Cite news|last=Daniels|first=Joe Parkin|date=2020-05-05|title=Donald Trump denies link to Venezuela armed raid by US citizens|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/05/venezuela-donald-trump-denies-link-raid-us-citizens|access-date=2020-05-06|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Goodman|first=Joshua|date=2020-03-27|title=Why US placed a $15 million bounty on Venezuela's Maduro|work=Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2020/0327/Why-US-placed-a-15-million-bounty-on-Venezuela-s-Maduro|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-11|issn=0882-7729}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Green Beret behind failed coup was desperate for multimillion-dollar bounty|url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/09/ex-green-beret-behind-failed-coup-was-desperate-for-money/|last=Vincent|first=Isabel|date=2020-05-09|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>
 
== Attack ==
[[File:Jordan Goudreau.png|thumb|upright|[[Jordan Goudreau]], seen in a video prior to the 3 May events|alt=]]
[[File:Operación Gedeón 2020 - Escudo Bolivariano.png|thumb|right|Venezuelan authorities monitoring the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]] coast during the ''Bolivarian Shield'' exercises]]
On 3 May, [[Diosdado Cabello]], president of the [[National Constituent Assembly (Venezuela)|National Constituent Assembly]] and vice-president of the ruling [[United Socialist Party of Venezuela]] (PSUV), released a statement indicating that the government had "received information that there was going to be an attack on Venezuela by sea; some people in boats attempted it, an action which was repelled by our security agencies on the beaches of Macuto, with an unfortunate tally of eight deceased, two detained people who were there; a lot of significant weapons, in addition to vehicles that they had ready to carry out actions directly on institutions and authorities."<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Ocho paramilitares fallecidos en incursión frustrada por La Guaira desde Colombia|publisher=State-owned media / Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Comunicación y la Información (MippCI)|last1=Bolivarian Government of Venezuela|date=2020-05-03|url=http://www.minci.gob.ve/ocho-paramilitares-fallecidos-en-incursion-frustrada-por-la-guaira-desde-colombia/|access-date=2020-05-11|location=Caracas}}</ref><ref name="skybotchedplot">{{Cite web|title=Venezuela attack: Former US special forces soldier says he led botched plot to overthrow President Maduro|url=https://news.sky.com/story/venezuela-attack-former-us-special-forces-soldier-says-he-led-botched-plot-to-overthrow-president-maduro-11982836|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref>
 
The boats had launched from Colombia at 17:00 the day before in two waves, with many of the soldiers experiencing [[motion sickness]] and vomiting while at sea.<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Donati|first=John Otis, Kejal Vyas and Jessica|date=2020-05-06|title='Freedom Fighters' Led by American Tried Invading Venezuela|language=en-US|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/freedom-fighters-led-by-american-tried-invading-venezuela-11588722164|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-12|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> According to Venezuelan state intelligence, the first boat, which was smaller and faster, arrived at Macuto, and the second boat arrived at [[Chuao]] in [[Aragua]] state.<ref name="EClosabiamaduro" /> The Venezuelan military reported that the mercenaries had "war materials" on their boats.<ref name="skybotchedplot" /> The naval attack force was composed of 60 soldiers, including two former [[United States Army Special Forces]] members employed as [[Private military company|private military contractors]] for Silvercorp USA.<ref name="skybotchedplot" /><ref name="Wapo-Herrero">{{cite news|last1=Herrero|first1=Ana Vanessa|last2=Faiola|first2=Anthony|date=2020-05-03|title=Venezuelan government says it stopped 'invasion' launched from Colombia|work=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuela-maduro-armed-invasion-guaido-opposition/2020/05/03/efb2fa88-8d51-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html|url-status=live|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref>
 
An initial fight in the early morning of 3 May involved the first boat and the Venezuelan Navy. Goudreau said that the second boat, yet to arrive at Venezuela, was running low on fuel at this point, but that refueling boats were sent from [[Aruba]] to help the incursion force. In the initial fight, eight mercenaries were arrested on the shore. Another six were killed on the beach;<ref name="ajwhatweknow" /> this had initially been reported as eight.<ref name="ajAmericanscaptured">{{Cite web|title=Venezuela's Maduro: Americans captured in failed coup plot|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/venezuela-americans-nabbed-failed-coup-plot-200505025057889.html|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref> Goudreau said that he had [[safe house]]s along the coast for his men.<ref name="ajwhatweknow" /> Videos of the fight, including gunshots, were shared on social media; the Venezuelan government first acknowledged the attack at 07:30, in an announcement from Interior Minister [[Néstor Reverol]].<ref name="bellingcatI-Fiorella" /> One of the men killed was former Venezuelan army captain Robert "Pantera" Colina.<ref name="EClosabiamaduro" /><ref name="CCmacutazo" />
 
Goudreau and former [[Venezuelan National Guard]] officer Javier Nieto Quintero released a video in the afternoon claiming responsibility, calling the attack "Operation Gideon" and explaining that they intended to launch an army into Venezuela to overthrow Maduro; Goudreau said that as well as the naval attack, his forces had entered Venezuela by land and were still operating. Speaking on national television that day, Reverol said that the Venezuelan military's defensive operation was ongoing, and would be for several days.<ref name="skybotchedplot" />
 
The second wave arrived on 4 May, but was intercepted by the navy, fishermen, and local police; the attackers were all captured.<ref name="CCmacutazo" /> Two other suspects were detained in [[Puerto La Cruz]] later that day.<ref name="CCmacutazo" /> Venezuelan Defense Minister [[Vladimir Padrino López]] later said that one of the landing boats had been sunk by the navy, and the country's military sent ships to look for survivors.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-03|title=Venezuela accuses Colombia of sea invasion|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52525209|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref>
 
== Aftermath, indictments and arrests ==
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width = 300
| align = right
| image1 = Operación Gedeón 2020 - arrests.png
| caption1 = Detainees in prone position in custody of Venezuelan authorities
| image2 = Operación Gedeón 2020 - Militant equipment.png
| caption2 = Equipment and [[identity document]]s allegedly brought into Venezuela by mercenaries
}}
On 4 May, Maduro said Venezuelan forces had detained 13 mercenaries, including two Americans working with Goudreau; Airan Berry and Luke Denman.<ref name="BBCMundo" /><ref name="AP-2US" /><ref name="Wapo-Herrero" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Operación suicida la historia del plan para derrocar a Maduro|language=es|trans-title=Suicide Operation: The story of the plan to overthrow Maduro|url=https://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/operacion-suicida-la-historia-del-plan-para-derrocar-a-maduro/670234|last=|first=|date=2020-05-10|website=Semana (Bogota)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> Goudreau said that eight of his soldiers had been captured on 4 May, the two Americans and six Venezuelans, and that an unknown number had been captured on 3 May.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Venezuela claims to have captured two Americans involved in failed invasion|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/americas/venezuela-maduro-americans-failed-invasion-intl/index.html|first=Claudia |last=Dominguez|website=CNN|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref> Goudreau gave an interview by telephone from Florida to a reporter from the Associated Press on 4 May.<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> Goudreau said that his intention in launching the raid was to "introduce a catalyst," acknowledging that it is impractical to believe "60 guys can come in and topple a regime."<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" /> Despite the long odds, Goudreau expressed his belief that "60 guys can go in and inspire the military and police to flip and join in the liberation of their country, which deep down is what they want."<ref name="AP-Goudreau-investigation" />
 
It was reported that "dozens" of mercenaries had been captured on 5 May.<ref name="ajAmericanscaptured" /> Regarding the detainees, Goudreau told the AP, "I've tried to engage everybody I know at every level ... Nobody's returning my calls. It's a nightmare."<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" /> Another three mercenaries were arrested on 6 May.<ref name="PadrinoTweet" /> Seized items from the mercenaries included weapons and uniforms embroidered with an [[American flag]].<ref name="Wapo-Herrero" /> Venezuelan Prosecutor General [[Tarek William Saab]] later announced that 25,000 national troops were mobilized<ref name="Sky2uscitizenscaptured">{{Cite web|title=Venezuela: Two US citizens held after failed coup attempt are named|url=https://news.sky.com/story/venezuela-two-us-citizens-held-after-failed-coup-attempt-are-named-11983259|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref> in a Venezuelan military mission named "Bolivarian Shield" ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Escudo Bolivariano'') to protect the country from similar attempts.<ref name="EClosabiamaduro" />
 
Robert Colina Ybarra (alias ''Pantera'' or "Panther"), the former captain alleged to have directed one of the training camps in [[Riohacha]], was killed in action.<ref name="BBCMundo" /><ref name="AA-Panteras">{{Cite web|title=Venezuela captures 2 US mercenaries over maritime raids|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/venezuela-captures-2-us-mercenaries-over-maritime-raids/1829956|last=Binnur Dönmez|first=Beyza|date=2020-05-05|website=Anadolu Agency (Ankara)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Confirman la muerte del capitán Robert Colina, alias Pantera, durante enfrentamiento en Macuto | trans-title= Death of Robert Colina, known as Pantera, during clash in Macuto confirmed|url=https://www.elnacional.com/venezuela/confirman-la-muerte-del-capitan-robert-colina-alias-pantera-durante-enfrentamiento-en-macuto/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-04|website=El Nacional|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> Adolfo Baduel, son of former Chávez Defense Minister, [[Raúl Baduel]], was among the detainees.<ref name="BBCMundo" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hija del general Baduel denuncia que desconocen el paradero de su hermano|trans-title=Daughter of general Baduel denounces that the whereabouts of her brother are unknown|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/hija-del-general-baduel-denuncia-que-desconocen-el-paradero-de-su-hermano/|last=Editorial Staff|first=|date=2020-05-05|website=El Pitazo|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
 
By 6 May, the Defense Minister announced an additional three arrests via his Twitter account, publishing a photo of the purported detainees with [[Pixelization|pixelated]] faces on their knees with their wrists [[zip tie|zip-tied]] together without disclosing the names or any other additional details regarding the accused.<ref name="PadrinoTweet" /> The same day, Trump announced his intent to appoint [[James B. Story]] as [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Venezuela|Ambassador of the United States to Venezuela]].<ref>{{Cite press release|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts|url=https://ve.usembassy.gov/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-to-nominate-and-appoint-individuals-to-key-administration-posts/|date=2020-05-06|access-date=2020-05-10|publisher=U.S. Virtual Embassy, Venezuela}}</ref>
 
Former Captain Javier Nieto Quintero, one of the organizers of the operation, said on 7 May that the events were only an "advanced tactical [[reconnaissance]]" and that the Carive group had 3,000 troops.<ref>{{Cite news|title=El día 'D' y la hora 'H' no ha llegado, Javier Nieto Quintero sobre 'Operación Gedeón'|language=es| trans-title=Javier Nieto Quintero on 'Operation Gideon': D Day and H Hour have not arrived |url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/el-dia-d-y-la-hora-h-no-ha-llegado-javier-nieto-quintero-sobre-operacion-gedeon/|last=Leon|first=Ibis|date=7 May 2020|work=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref> Venezuelan media and [[Reuters]] also reported that [[Russian Special Operations Forces]] were assisting Venezuelan soldiers with surveillance from [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s.<ref name="ECrus" /><ref name="ZODI" />
 
Among the seized equipment, there was an [[airsoft gun]] and [[Condom|seven condoms]].<ref name="NYMag-dumbest-aspects" /><ref name="runrunes-Gedeon-Macutazo" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Detenidos por "Operación Gedeón" llevaban... ¿preservativos y una pistola de Airsoft? (Fotos)|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2020/05/11/detenidos-por-operacion-gedeon-llevaban-preservativos-y-una-pistola-de-airsoft-fotos/|first=|date=2020-05-11|website=[[La Patilla]]|language=es-ES|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>
 
=== Luke Denman ===
{{quote box
|text=[Luke Denman] mentioned that he had a buddy from the Army that was currently in D.C. talking to people. His understanding was that he was talking to people pretty high up to set something up either to train Venezuelans or lay the groundwork for further American involvement. He said his buddy up in Washington was talking to guys, getting approval. He was led to believe that there was full state sanction. Luke thought, 'if the government was signing off on this, then we are doing the right thing.' It’s not like they were expendables, trying to make a few bucks.
|width = 25%
|align = right
|author=''Military Times'' (quoting Braxton Smith, attorney and lifelong friend of Luke Denman)<ref name="MT-likely-believed">{{Cite web|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/05/11/family-of-ex-green-beret-captured-in-venezuela-says-men-likely-believed-they-were-trying-to-liberate-the-oppressed/|title=Family of ex-Green Beret captured in Venezuela says men likely believed they were trying to liberate the oppressed|date=2020-05-11|access-date=2020-05-18|website=[[Military Times]]|last=Altman|first=Howard|last2=Rempfer|first2=Kyle}}</ref>
}}
On 6 May, Nicolás Maduro held a virtual press conference broadcast on state television in which he presented portions of Luke Denman's interrogation.<ref name="BBCMundo" /><ref name="denman">{{Cite news|date=2020-05-06|title=Detained American claims he plotted Maduro's capture in Venezuela TV statement |language=en|agency=Reuters|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-security-videos-idUKKBN22I2PF|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> In introducing the video, Maduro said that both Americans had "confessed, and we will ensure that justice is done and the truth surfaces."<ref name="WAPO-Maduro-Denman-PR">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/maduro-presents-video-confession-by-captured-american/2020/05/06/4fdc08d4-8fdf-11ea-a9c0-73b93422d691_story.html | title = Maduro presents video confession by captured American| date = 2020-05-06|publisher=The [[Washington Post]]|language=es|trans-title=Venezuela: Pres. Maduro announces the arrest of 4 new terrorists|via=[[YouTube]]|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> In the video, Denman states that his instructions were to seize [[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]] in [[Maiquetía]] and fly Maduro to the United States, which Maduro cited as proof that the orders came directly from [[President of the United States|United States president]] [[Donald Trump]]. The video shows Denman answering questions that were asked in English, also indicating that he was hired through Goudreau and that they trained 50 combatants in Colombia in January 2020.<ref name="denman" />
 
Ephraim Mattos, a Navy [[SEAL]] who had visited the rebel training camps in Colombia but was not involved in the operation, noted that Denman made an unusual and exaggerated gesture with his eyes during his recorded interrogation, noting that it may have been a covert signal, that "special operation soldiers are trained to find creative ways to discredit any propaganda videos they are forced to make if captured by the enemy" and that the odd eye movement immediately after saying Trump was Goudreau's boss is "a clear sign from Luke that he is being forced."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro airs video of American detained in alleged plot|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-05-06/maduro-airs-video-of-american-detained-in-venezuela-plot|last=|first=|date=2020-05-07|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref>
 
Denman, who was 34 years old at the time of the incident, is a former [[United States Army Special Forces|Army Special Forces]] [[Military communications|communications]] sergeant who left the Army in December 2011.<ref name="2Tex">{{Cite web|title=Two Texans Are Accused of Trying to Invade Venezuela. Their Family Members Want Answers.|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/two-texans-accused-of-invading-venezuela/|last=Wood|first=David|date=2020-05-10|website=Texas Monthly|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref><ref name="nypostgoudreaubro">{{Cite news|last=Steinbuch|first=Yaron|date=2020-05-06|title=Brother of ex-Green Beret in failed Venezuela coup pleads for help from US|language=en|work=New York Post|url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/06/brother-of-ex-green-beret-caught-in-venezuela-coup-pleads-for-help/|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> During his five years in the Army, Denman was trained in [[Battlefield medicine|field medicine]] and deployed to [[Iraq]] at least once.<ref name="2Tex" /><ref name="nypostgoudreaubro" /> [[Texas Monthly]] wrote that after his separation from the Army, Denman "seemed, like many combat veterans, to be unable to find excitement and meaning in post-military life, missing his closest buddies and the fulfilling ideal of service to country."<ref name="2Tex" /> He had worked jobs as a security guard, and then as an offshore welder out of [[Louisiana]] before moving to [[Oregon]] in the fall of 2019.<ref name="2Tex" /> Denman's home town is [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref name="2Tex" />
 
Denman reportedly believed the United States government backed the naval attack.<ref name="MT-likely-believed" /><ref name="wsj-Denman-fam">{{Cite news|last=Donati|first=Jessica|date=2020-05-15|title=Ex-Green Beret Thought U.S. Supported Failed Venezuela Raid, Family Says|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-green-beret-thought-u-s-supported-failed-venezuela-raid-family-says-11589540401|access-date=2020-05-17|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Raddatz |first1=Martha |last2=Finnegan|first2=Conor|title=Families of Americans detained by Venezuela in failed raid plead for help |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/families-americans-detained-venezuela-failed-raid-plead/story?id=70688793 |website=ABC News |accessdate=2020-05-18 |language=en}}</ref> Denman's childhood friend, Daniel Dochen, told the Wall Street Journal that Denman believed the operation had personal approval from President Trump.<ref name="MT-likely-believed" /><ref name="wsj-Denman-fam" /><ref name="main-de-Schweinfurt">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mainpost.de/regional/schweinfurt/umsturzversuch-schweinfurter-droht-lange-haft-in-venezuela;art742,10446554|title=Umsturzversuch?: Schweinfurter droht lange Haft in Venezuela|date=2020-05-15|access-date=2020-05-18|website={{ill|Main-Post|de}}|language=de}}</ref> A lifelong friend of Denman also reported that Denman indicated in October 2019 that one of his friends from the military was in the process of obtaining government approval for training operations or operations aimed at paving the way for more substantial engagement by the United States government.<ref name="MT-likely-believed" />
 
Denman reportedly told his father "that he had a job offer in Florida that he couldn't talk about," though he did not disclose it had anything to do with Venezuela. He did say, however, that "it was the most meaningful thing he's ever done."<ref name="2Tex" /> Denman's mother told reporters that she "had no idea" of his intention to participate in a military operation in Colombia.<ref name="2Tex" /> Similarly, Luke's girlfriend since 2014, told the ''[[Military Times]]'' she was unaware of the planned operation.<ref name="MT-likely-believed" /> Denman's girlfriend reported she "didn’t know very much, other than Luke trusted [Goudreau] and that he had a job opportunity with him."<ref name="MT-likely-believed" />
 
In the weeks following the attack, Luke's brother, Mark Denman, an attorney, took on the task of advocating for the release of both Luke Denman and Airan Berry.<ref name="MT-likely-believed" /><ref name="wsj-Denman-fam" /><ref name="main-de-Schweinfurt" />
 
=== Airan Berry ===
Airan Berry, who was 41 years old at the time of the raid, was a special forces engineer sergeant in the Army from 1996 to 2013.<ref name="MT-career-info">{{Cite web|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/05/06/heres-the-career-info-for-the-former-green-berets-involved-in-venezuela-raid-debacle/|title=Here’s the career info for the former Green Berets involved in Venezuela raid debacle|date=2020-05-06|access-date=2020-05-17|website=Military Times|last=Rempfer|first=Kyle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515234052/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/05/06/heres-the-career-info-for-the-former-green-berets-involved-in-venezuela-raid-debacle/|archive-date=2020-05-15|url-status=live}}</ref> Berry deployed to Iraq in from March to June 2003, from November 2004 to June 2005, and from February 2007 to March 2007.<ref name="MT-career-info" /> During his career, he obtained a multitude of decorations and designations, including the [[United States Army Rangers|Ranger]] tab, the Parachutist Badge, and the Special Operations Diver and Diving Supervisor Badges.<ref name="MT-career-info" /> Berry was also subject to interrogation which was videotaped and presented in parts on state television on 7 May, during a press release presented by the Vice President of Communication, Tourism, and Culture, [[Jorge Rodríguez (politician)|Jorge Rodríguez]], from [[Miraflores Palace]].<ref name="WAPO-Maduro-Denman-PR" /><ref name="Guardian-mercenary-says">{{cite web|title=US mercenary says group plotted to seize Venezuela's presidential palace|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/venezuela-us-mercenary-nicolas-maduro|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2020-05-07|website=[[The Guardian]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Venezuela's state-run media aired footage of Berry saying that the operation's planners met with Elkin Javier López Torres, whom the Maduro government described as a "drug trafficker".<ref name="radiomundial-US-Col-coordination">{{Cite web|title=Testimonio de Airan Berry confirma operación terrorista coordinada con EEUU y Colombia|url=http://radiomundial.com.ve/article/testimonio-de-airan-berry-confirma-operaci%C3%B3n-terrorista-coordinada-con-eeuu-y-colombia|last=|first=|date=7 May 2020|website=[[Agencia Venezolana de Noticias]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> During his interrogation, Berry said that he was to advise the capture of an airport and the extraction of Maduro along with his officials.<ref name="radiomundial-US-Col-coordination" /> The video ends with Berry showing a document allegedly signed by Guaidó and Goudreau.<ref name="radiomundial-US-Col-coordination" />
 
Berry is married to his wife of 19 years, Melanie, who is German-American.<ref name="main-de-Schweinfurt" /><ref name="t-online-Appeal-from-Germany">{{Cite web|url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/ausland/krisen/id_87862242/appeal-from-germany-family-s-worries-mount-over-american-airan-berry-detained-in-venezuela.html|title=Appeal from Germany: Family's Worries Mount over American Detained in Venezuela|date=2020-05-11|access-date=2020-05-18|website=[[T-Online]]|last=Wienand|first=Lars|url-status=live}}</ref> In the aftermath of the event, among the identity documents exhibited on television by Maduro's officials was a driver's license issued to Berry in [[Schweinfurt]], [[Germany]], where Berry, his wife, and two children lived since 2013.<ref name="main-de-Schweinfurt" /><ref name="t-online-Appeal-from-Germany" /> Berry's home town is [[Fort Worth, Texas]], where his father lives.<ref name="2Tex" /><ref name="main-de-Schweinfurt" />
 
=== Criminal charges and extradition requests ===
On 8 May, the Attorney General appointed by the Constituente Assembly, [[Tarek William Saab]],<ref name="HRW-under-attack" /> announced that Luke Alexander Denman and Airan Berry would face charges for terrorism, conspiracy, "illicit trafficking of weapons of war" and "(criminal) association." These charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=8 May 2020|title=Venezuela charges two ex-US soldiers with 'terrorism, conspiracy'|work=[[Al Jazeera]]|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/venezuela-charges-soldiers-terrorism-conspiracy-200509054632452.html|url-status=live|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> Saab also announced that his office requested arrest warrants for Jordan Goudreau, Juan José Rendón, and Sergio Vergara.<ref name="AAextradition" /> Speaking on state television, he said that the three persons were involved in the "design, financing and execution of this war action against the territory, the authorities and the people of Venezuela."<ref name="AAextradition" /> He elaborated that "given that they are outside the country, we will request their inclusion in the [[Interpol]] system, as well as their extradition to Venezuelan territory."<ref name="AAextradition" />
 
William Saab announced on 15 May 2020 an arrest warrant against [[Popular Will]] politician [[Yon Goicoechea]]. Goicoechea rejected the accusations of any involvement with Operation Gideon, and accused Maduro's administration of paying and leading the uprising attempt to victimize itself and "persecute political dissent".<ref name="HRW-under-attack" />
 
On 16 May 2020, according to a press release published by [[Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela)|Venezuela's highest court]], several trial courts [[subject-matter jurisdiction|dedicated]] to [[terrorism]]-related crimes ordered that some 40 individuals alleged to have participated in the raid be remanded to [[preventive detention]].<ref name="Pitazo-tribunales-privan">{{Cite web|url=https://elpitazo.net/gran-caracas/operacion-gedeon-tribunales-privan-de-libertad-a-josnar-baduel-y-a-capitan-sequea/|title=Operación Gedeón: tribunales privan de libertad a Josnar Baduel y a capitán Sequea|date=2020-05-16|access-date=2020-05-18|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Operation Gideon: courts order confinement of Josnar Baduel and Captain Sequea}}</ref><ref name="EFE-Justicia-ve-dicta">{{Cite web|url=https://es.finance.yahoo.com/noticias/justicia-venezolana-dicta-prisi%C3%B3n-preventiva-174006406.html|title=La Justicia venezolana dicta prisión preventiva a 40 personas por ataque fallido|date=2020-05-16|access-date=2020-05-18|website=[[EFE]]|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Venezuelan court orders preventive detention to 40 individuals for failed attack|via=Yahoo Finanzas (Yahoo Finance in Spanish)}}</ref> Antonio Sequea Torres was also in pretrial confinement and charged with commission of aggravated [[first-degree murder|intentional homicide]] in connection with his alleged attempt to [[magnicide|assassinate]] Maduro.<ref name="Pitazo-tribunales-privan" /><ref name="EFE-Justicia-ve-dicta" /> The Supreme Tribunal of Justice also indicated that most of those involved in the operation are alleged to have committed the crimes of [[treason]], [[rebellion]], [[arms trafficking]], [[criminal conspiracy]], and colluding with a foreign government.<ref name="Pitazo-tribunales-privan" /> Local newspaper ''[[El Pitazo]]'' reported that the mother of one of the accused had demanded assurance that her son was alive after receiving a phone call from her son requesting his brother's telephone number "so that they would stop [[torture|torturing]] him."<ref name="Pitazo-tribunales-privan" />
 
Five individuals who have been accused by the Maduro administration of participation in the operation, including the two detained American mercenaries, had not been publicly charged as of 16 May.<ref name="EFE-Justicia-ve-dicta" />
 
State television aired an additional video of Airan Berry on 18 May, in an orange jumpsuit, answering questions about the planning of the raid.<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2">{{cite web | url = | title = U.S. mercenaries are paraded on Venezuelan TV again as they reveal President Nicolás Maduro was given name 'jackpot' in plan to kidnap him | date = 2020-05-19 | publisher = [[Daily Mail]] }}</ref> According to Berry's videotaped statement, Antonio Sequea Torres and the drug trafficker Elkin Javier López, better known as ''Doble Rueda'' [{{translation|''Two-Wheeled''}}], also referred to as ''la silla'' [{{Translation|''the chair''}}] – met multiple times during the planning period of the operation in order to coordinate logistics.<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /><ref name="Tiempo-Ruedas-extradition">{{cite web|title=Señalado por Maduro de apoyar golpe busca acelerar su envío a EE. UU. |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/investigacion/elkin-lopez-senalado-por-nicolas-maduro-pidio-extradicion-expres-a-estados-unidos-493014 |website=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]] |language=spanish|trans-title=Individual identified by Maduro as supporting the coup seeks to speed up being sent to the United States|date=8 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Nacional-JRodrig-Goicoechea">{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnacional.com/venezuela/jorge-rodriguez-acuso-a-goicoechea-de-participar-en-la-operacion-gedeon/|title=Jorge Rodríguez acusó a Goicoechea de participar en la Operación Gedeón|date=2020-05-18|access-date=2020-05-18|website=[[El Nacional (Venezuela)]]|url-status=live}}</ref> The estate of López Torres in the Colombian Guajira is alleged to be the point of departure for the two boats involved in the raid.<ref name="Tiempo-Ruedas-extradition" /><ref name="Nacional-JRodrig-Goicoechea" /> The [[Valledupar]]-based López Torres was arrested in December 2019 and his extradition was requested by the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/unidad-investigativa/estados-unidos-pide-extradicion-del-capo-alias-la-silla-443628|title=EE. UU. pide extradición inmediata del señalado capo alias 'La silla'|date=2019-12-14|website=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)]]|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=United States requests immediate extradition of crime boss known as 'the chair.'}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/unidad-investigativa/quien-es-la-silla-el-supuesto-capo-al-que-duque-ordeno-perseguir-405780|title=¿Quién es {{'}}la Silla{{'}}, el supuesto capo al que Duque ordenó perseguir?|date=2019-08-28|website=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)]]|url-status=live|language=es|trans-title=Who is {{'}}the Chair,{{'}} the alleged crime boss that Duque ordered be pursued?}}</ref>
 
An additional interrogation video depicting Luke Denman in an orange jumpsuit was also aired on state television on 18 May 2020.<ref name="Maduradas-Denman2">{{Cite web|url=https://maduradas.com/le-contamos-divulgan-testimonio-del-estadounidense-luke-denman-objetivo-la-operacion-gedeon-entrenar-venezolanos-venir-aca-poner-maduro-avion-video/|title=¡LE CONTAMOS! Divulgan testimonio del estadounidense Luke Denman sobre el objetivo de la "Operación Gedeón": Entrenar venezolanos, venir acá y poner a Maduro en un avión (+Video)|date=2020-05-18|access-date=2020-05-18|website=Maduradas|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref><ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /> In the video, Luke indicates that his objective in embarking on the operation, as relayed by Jordan Goudreau, was to arrive in Colombia to train Venezuelans, accompany them to Venezuela for the landing, and once the Venezuelan dissidents' objectives had been achieved, "put Maduro on a plane," and provide support at the airport in order that humanitarian aid could arrive.<ref name="Maduradas-Denman2" /><ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /> Denman said Goudreau first mentioned the plan to him in November or December.<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /> Luke indicated that he did not sign any contract and did not sign for any risk insurance before the operation was launched.<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /> Denman also said that he had received photographs of the general services agreement from Goudreau.<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" /> Denman told his interrogator that he assessed the risk level of the mission to be "pretty high" given that they "were, for all intents and purposes, invading a country, taking military and police targets, and capturing the sitting president."<ref name="DailyMail-VTV-interrog2" />
 
As of 21 May, 66 arrests took place and 99 arrests warrants had been issued, 63 of which remained outstanding.<ref name="HRW-under-attack" />
 
== Analysis ==
{{Importance section|date=May 2020}}
 
=== Description of event ===
The event was described by numerous sources internationally as being an attempted "[[coup]]",<ref>{{bullet}}{{cite news|date=8 May 2020|title=Was the US involved in a coup attempt in Venezuela?|work=[[Al Jazeera]]|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2020/05/involved-coup-attempt-venezuela-200508194501925.html|accessdate=12 May 2020|quote=As an attempted coup, this failed and failed big. So what did it realistically achieve?}} * {{cite news|title=Democrats press Trump for answers on foiled Venezuela raid|work=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.startribune.com/democrats-press-trump-for-answers-on-foiled-venezuela-raid/570284222/|accessdate=12 May 2020|quote=Goudreau has said he was unable to ever persuade the Trump administration to support his bold plan for a private coup}} * {{cite news|date=6 May 2020|title=After Failed Coup Plot, Maduro Touts Video Of Detained American Conspirator|language=en|work=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/05/06/851487678/after-failed-coup-plot-maduro-touts-video-of-detained-american-conspirator|accessdate=12 May 2020|quote=U.S. service members detained earlier this week in Venezuela acknowledged plans to help carry out a coup}}</ref> with [[Vox (website)|Vox]]'s Alex Ward writing that the Guaidó and Silvercorp documents "explicitly outline what was agreed to: a coup".<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" /> Ronal Rodríguez, Head of [[Del Rosario University]]'s Observatory for Venezuela, stated "Operation Gideon is agreeing with [[Chavismo]], which has always accused the opposition of being undemocratic and coup-mongering and of promoting exits outside constitutional frameworks".<ref>{{Cite web|title=El peligro del "todo se vale" en Venezuela|url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/el-mundo/el-peligro-del-todo-se-vale-en-venezuela-articulo-919377|last=|first=|date=2020-05-13|website=[[El Espectador]]|language=ES|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
 
=== Guaidó government's alleged involvement ===
Ricardo Sucre Heredia, a political analyst of the [[Central University of Venezuela]], stated that the opposition's strategy of promoting insurrection within the Venezuelan armed forces "is a strategy that has not yielded results" and that the Guaidó government's approach of "all options are on the table and under the table" suggests an opposition with criminal and dictatorial tendencies. He also explained that despite Guaidó's statements distancing himself from the operation, the fact that the opposition leader considered the option shows that he had abandoned an electoral solution to the Venezuelan political crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=La estrategia insurreccional no funciona hoy en Venezuela, advierte Ricardo Sucre|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/la-estrategia-insurreccional-no-funciona-hoy-en-venezuela-advierte-ricardo-sucre/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-07|website=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]|language=es|trans-title=The insurrectional strategy does not work (is not viable) today in Venezuela, warns Ricardo Sucre|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>
 
In a [[BBC Mundo]] article, two analysts were interviewed; risk consultant Dimitris Pantoulas, and head of the Datanálisis consultant firm Luis Vicente León.<ref name="BBCMundo-Guaido-leadership">{{Cite news|last=Olmo|first=Guillermo D.|date=2020-05-19|title=Cómo afecta al liderazgo de Juan Guaidó en la oposición venezolana el fracaso de la Operación Gedeón contra Nicolás Maduro|language=es|work=[[BBC Mundo]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-52687264|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref> When discussing Guaidó's alleged involvement with Silvercorp, Pantoulas stated that "the opposition has given many different versions" and that the divisions within the opposition pressured Guaidó to choose between supporting negotiations with Maduro or resorting to violence.<ref name="BBCMundo-Guaido-leadership" /> Pantoulas and León agreed that Guaidó's image was tarnished by the incident and that he had not made progress for political change in Venezuela.<ref name="BBCMundo-Guaido-leadership" /> León explained that the opposition must decide if it should participate in [[2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] moving forward, stating "the opposition seems to have exhausted the routes".<ref name="BBCMundo-Guaido-leadership" />
 
An analysis by Patricio Zamorano of the [[Council on Hemispheric Affairs]] wrote that the event showed that Guaidó controlled large amounts of funding despite his inexperience, that the opposition does not have support from the Venezuelan armed forces and that the Guaidó government was willing to use violence to fulfill political goals.<ref name="COHAfailedoperation">{{Cite web|title=Guaidó and the Failed Military Operation against Venezuela: A Story of Betrayal and Financial Corruption|url=http://www.coha.org/guaido-and-the-failed-military-operation-against-venezuela-a-story-of-betrayal-and-financial-corruption/|last=Zamorano|first=Patricio|date=5 May 2020|website=[[Council on Hemispheric Affairs]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Zamorano states that the failed operation would possibly result with the end of the opposition's support for Guaidó.<ref name="COHAfailedoperation" />
 
The [[Washington Office on Latin America]]'s Venezuelan expert David Smilde stated that the failed operation "clearly contributes to the deterioration of the opposition's national and international standing".<ref name="Vox-Ridiculous" />
 
The polling group [[Meganálisis]] conducted interviews of a random sampling of 957 Venezuelans between 5 May and 9 May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=El 88% de los venezolanos cree que Guaidó no está capacitado para gobernar, según encuesta|url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/el-mundo/el-88-de-los-venezolanos-cree-que-guaido-no-esta-capacitado-para-gobernar-segun-encuesta-articulo-920591|last=|first=|date=2020-05-21|website=[[El Espectador]]|language=ES|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> When asked if they believed Guaidó when he said that he did not sign documents with Silvercorp, 85.0% of respondents replied that they did not believe Guaidó.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Encuestadora Meganalisis - 9 DE MAYO 2020|url=http://www.encuestadorameganalisis.com/9-de-mayo-2020.html|website=www.encuestadorameganalisis.com|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
 
=== Motive for operation ===
Regarding the head of Silvercorp, Jordan Goudreau, ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that Venezuelans alternatively saw him "as a [[huckster]] selling a suicide mission to desperate Venezuelans, as well as a hero committed to liberating the nation".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Turkewitz|first=Julie|last2=Robles|first2=Frances|date=2020-05-07|title=An Incursion Into Venezuela, Straight Out of Hollywood|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/world/americas/venezuela-failed-overthrow.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-09|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Some sources reported that Goudreau was inspired by the 26 March bounty offered by the United States of capturing Maduro and other "[[High-value target|high value targets]]" (HVT's) and sending them to the United States, if the raid were successful.<ref name="Connecting-Vets-recruit" /><ref name="2Tex" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|last2=Parkin Daniels|first2=Joe|last3=McGreal|first3=Chris|date=2020-05-08|title='His head wasn't in the world of reality': how the plot to invade Venezuela fell apart|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/08/his-head-wasnt-in-the-world-of-reality-how-the-plot-to-invade-venezuela-fell-apart|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-11|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kryt|first=Jeremy|date=2020-05-06|title=Trump Just Inspired the Dumbest Damned Coup Plot in LatAm History, Complete with a QAnon Crazy|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/in-venezuela-trump-just-inspired-the-dumbest-coup-plot-in-latin-american-history-complete-with-a-qanon-crazy|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
 
Fulton Armstrong, former National Intelligence Officer for Latin America who was once among the most senior analysts within the [[United States Intelligence Community]], stated "The United States has put incentives for this type of operation, ... although everything indicates that this operation was not directed by Washington, everything also indicates that it was approved there," concluding that "there is a pretext for direct military action by the United States, by labeling the former US military detainees as 'hostages' along with the six dual-national Citgo executives under house arrest in Venezuela".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Claro aval de EU en la invasión a Venezuela|url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/ultimas/mundo/2020/05/14/claro-aval-de-eu-en-la-invasion-a-venezuela-6090.html|last=Brooks|first=David|date=2020-05-14|website=[[La Jornada]]|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref>
 
The Washington Office on Latin America wrote that documents revealed in the media "confirmed" that the Guaidó government signed documents with Silvercorp.<ref name="WOLA">{{Cite web|title=Stated U.S. Support for Negotiated Transition Should Guide the Trump Administration's Venezuela Policy|url=https://www.wola.org/2020/05/us-support-negotiated-transition-trump-administration-venezuela-policy/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-07|website=[[Washington Office on Latin America]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> The organization also criticized the Trump administration for "maintaining that 'all options are on the table,' including a military option," explaining that such stances by the United States "has tacitly discouraged the Venezuelan opposition from prioritizing negotiations in favor of a theory of change that relies on creating an improbable rupture between the armed forces and the Maduro government."<ref name="WOLA" />
 
=== Maduro government response ===
The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' writes that "For Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, it’s the propaganda gift that keeps on giving, buoying a leader long in Washington’s crosshairs" and that the failed operation "quickly became a Maduro rallying cry, a Bay of Pigs in miniature, complete with a pair of captured U.S. gunmen".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maduro buoyed, Guaidó reeling after failed amphibious raid in Venezuela|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-05-10/maduro-buoyed-guaido-reeling-venezuela-mercenary-attack|date=2020-05-10|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] criticized Maduro for alleging that the human rights NGO [[PROVEA]] had connections to the United States [[Central Intelligence Agency]] after the organization called for due process of the captured militants.<ref name="HRW-under-attack" /> Human Rights Watch wrote: "An international community that’s closely watching what happens in Venezuela needs to send the message loud and clear: subjecting human rights defenders to politically motivated prosecution, detention or other abuses would be crossing a line for which those responsible will have to answer".<ref name="HRW-under-attack" />
 
==Reactions==
=== Domestic ===
 
==== Maduro government ====
The Maduro administration accused the United States and Colombian governments of masterminding the attack, which both denied.<ref name="Sky2uscitizenscaptured" /><ref name="reutersTrumpdenies2">{{cite news|author=Steve Holland|date=5 May 2020|title=Trump denies U.S. role in what Venezuela says was 'mercenary' incursion|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-security-trump/trump-denies-u-s-role-in-what-venezuela-says-was-mercenary-incursion-idUSKBN22H1XL}}</ref> Goudreau has also denied receiving any help for his operation from US and Colombian authorities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Venezuela arrests two US 'mercenaries' after alleged raid to capture Maduro|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200505-venezuela-arrests-two-us-mercenaries-after-beach-raid|date=5 May 2020|website=France 24|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> Vice President [[Delcy Rodríguez]] called Goudreau "a supremacist fanatic" and warned that "the Venezuelan women are waiting for you, for free, but with deep homeland passion."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=4 May 2020|title=Las venezolanas lo esperamos gratis con profunda pasión patria»: el mensaje de Delcy Rodríguez a Jordan Goudreau|language=es|trans-title=The women of Venezuela await you with deep patriotic devotion - Delcy Rodriguez's message to Jordan Goudreau|work=Alberto News|url=https://albertonews.com/politica/las-mujeres-venezolanas-lo-esperamos-con-profunda-pasion-patria-el-mensaje-de-delcy-rodriguez-a-jordan-goudreau/|url-status=live|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>
 
Foreign Minister [[Jorge Arreaza]] criticized foreign governments and international organizations for their "deafening silence in the face of the mercenary aggression against Venezuela" and said that "the same people who always condemn us immediately based on biased or false information, today remain silent in the face of such a serious and full case of evidence." He added that "all those involved in the armed aggression against Venezuela confess that they trained in Colombia, with the knowledge of the Bogotá government and the financing of drug traffickers from that country."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=8 May 2020|title=Arreaza: Silencio de gobiernos ante agresiones contra Venezuela es complicidad|language=es|trans-title = Arreaza: The silence of governments in the face of attacks against Venezuela is complicity|work=[[El Universal (Venezuela)]]|agency=AVN|url=https://www.eluniversal.com/politica/69815/arreza-silencio-de-gobiernos-ante-agresiones-contra-venezuela-es-complicidad|url-status=live|access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>
 
[[Luis Parra]], the president of the pro-Maduro National Assembly, stated "The deputy Juan Guaidó must give an explanation to the parliament and the country, about his alleged participation in Operation Gideon, according to the testimonies of those involved in it and the contract with his alleged signature" and said that his National Assembly would investigate Guaidó regarding the allegations.<ref name="AN-investigate">{{Cite web|title=AN investigará vínculo de Guaidó en el plan para asesinar a Maduro|url=http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/politica/an-investigara-vinculo-de-guaido-en-el-plan-para-asesinar-a-maduro/|date=2020-05-08|website=Últimas Noticias|language=es|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
 
==== Opposition ====
[[File:J.J. Rendón.jpg|thumb|200px|Guaidó's General Strategist [[JJ Rendón|J.J. Rendón]], who resigned due to his interactions with Silvercorp|alt=]]Juan Guaidó has accused the Maduro administration of "trying to create a state of apparent confusion, an effort to hide what's happening in Venezuela," citing recent events like the gasoline shortages, the [[Guanare prison riot]], a violent gang battle in Caracas, and the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela]].<ref name="reutersTrumpdenies2" /> Guaidó also demanded that the human rights of the detainees be respected.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sequera|first=Vivian|date=6 May 2020|title=Venezuelan authorities detain U.S. citizens allegedly involved in incursion|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-security-idUSKBN22G2O0|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>
 
[[Iván Simonovis]], security and intelligence commissioner for the Guaidó administration, stated that the events in Macuto would be used by the Maduro government as a pretext to harass opponents and intensify repression, saying that Guaidó's administration would investigate the events and clarify its details.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Según Iván Simonovis lo ocurrido en Macuto fue para profundizar la represión|trans-title=According to Ivan Simonovis, what happened in Macuto was for the purpose of increasing repression|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/segun-ivan-simonovis-lo-ocurrido-en-macuto-fue-para-profundizar-la-represion/|date=2020-05-03|website=[[El Pitazo]]|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> According to J.J. Rendón, the operation was compromised for months and that intelligence gathered by the Maduro government allowed the Venezuelan armed forces to set the militants up for an [[ambush]], in order to create a "montage" of the events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Venezuela: "No hubo misión militar fallida, sí un montaje del régimen"|trans-title=Venezuela: "There was no failed military mission, but there was a regime set-up." |url=https://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/jj-rendon-no-hubo-accion-militar-si-montaje-del-regimen--n4198737|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Diario las Américas]]|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>
 
The opposition political party [[Justice First]] demanded that Guaidó immediately dismiss the officials involved with the plot and charged that they "used his government's name for individual purposes."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Primero Justicia pide destitución de involucrados en complot|url=https://www.diariolasamericas.com/primero-justicia-pide-destitucion-involucrados-complot-n4198730|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Diario las Américas]]|language=es|trans-title=Justice First calls for dismissal of those involved in plot|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> [[Julio Borges]], Guaidó's foreign minister, called for the dismissal of all officials related to the plot, stating "we worry that energies are put into the creation of a bureaucratic caste and not into political change." J.J. Rendón and {{Interlanguage link|Sergio Vergara (politician)|lt=Sergio Vergara|es|Sergio Vergara (político)}}, who initiated talks with Silvercorp about the operation, resigned from Guaidó's team on 11 May, with Guaidó thanking the two for "dedication and commitment to Venezuela".<ref>{{cite news|date=11 May 2020|title=Venezuelan opposition advisers resign after failed operation to oust Maduro|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-security/venezuelan-opposition-advisers-resign-after-failed-operation-to-oust-maduro-idUSKBN22N2BU|access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref> According to a Guaidó aide, the two officials "sacrificed themselves" in order to prevent "further embarrassment" towards the opposition.
 
==== NGOs ====
The human rights NGO [[PROVEA]] asked about the well-being of the people arrested in Macuto and in Chuao and indicated that the Attorney General appointed by the Constituent Assembly, [[Tarek William Saab]], and the [[Ombudsman]] appointed by Maduro, Alfredo Ruiz, would be responsible for possible forced disappearances or torture of the detainees, while stressing that it would only support and promote peaceful and constitutional means that lead to the "restoration of democracy in the country."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Provea exige garantías a la integridad de detenidos en Macuto y Chuao|trans-title=[[PROVEA]] demands assurances of the wellbeing of those detained in Macuto and Chuao |url=https://runrun.es/noticias/406244/provea-exige-garantias-a-la-integridad-de-detenidos-en-macuto-y-chuao/|last=|first=|date=2020-05-05|website=[[Runrunes]]|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> Maduro accused PROVEA of being "financed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]" and giving coverage to "terrorists" as a response, accusations that PROVEA rejected.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Provea responde a Maduro: Nadie nos va a desviar del camino|url=https://www.noticierodigital.com/2020/05/provea-responde-a-maduro-nadie-nos-va-a-desviar-del-camino/|language=es|trans-title=PROVEA responds to Maduro: Nobody is going to divert us from our path|last=|first=|date=|work=Noticiero Digital|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref>
 
The ''Futuro Presente'' Foundation was accused by Maduro's administration of financing the operation. ''Futuro Presente'' categorically rejected the accusations of the participation of the organization and any of its members, alleged they were being persecuted, asked for it to end, and said that it was based on "completely false and unfounded accusations".<ref>{{Cite web|title="Nunca he tenido trato con Jordan Goudreau", responde Yon Goicoechea|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/nunca-he-tenido-trato-por-ningun-medio-con-el-senor-jordan-goudreau-responde-yon-goicoechea/|last=Martínez|first=Deisy|date=2020-05-21|website=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
 
=== International ===
 
*{{flag|Colombia}}: The Colombian government rejected the accusations, calling them an attempt by the "dictatorial regime of [[Nicolás Maduro]]" to divert attention from problems in the country.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=4 May 2020|title=Venezuela says it foiled an incursion by 'mercenaries'|work=[[Agence France-Presse]]|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504171520/https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/venezuela-says-it-foiled-incursion-mercenaries-doc-1qz10c2|access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref> President [[Iván Duque Márquez]] said that he did not sponsor invasions or tricks in response to the accusations and stated "I do things up front because I am a defender of democracy."<ref name="AAextradition">{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=8 May 2020|title=Venezuela asks extradition of US citizen in failed raid|agency=[[Anadolu Agency]]|location=Bogota|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/venezuela-asks-extradition-of-us-citizen-in-failed-raid/1834290|url-status=live|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Russia}}: The [[Russian Foreign Ministry]] said that United States' denial was "unconvincing" and pointed to earlier warnings made by the Trump administration that "all options" are on the table, including the possibility of military action. It also said that the actions of the mercenaries deserve "unequivocal and decisive condemnation."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=6 May 2020|title=Russia weighs in on Donald Trump's 'unconvincing' denial of alleged Venezuelan plot|work=[[SBS World News]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/russia-weighs-in-on-donald-trump-s-unconvincing-denial-of-alleged-venezuelan-plot|url-status=live|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>
**On 20 May 2020, Russia convoked an open debate of the [[United Nations Security Council]] for the purpose of urging the members of the Council to condemn the attack as a threat to peace in Venezuela and to security in the region.<ref name="AP-UN-urge-resume">{{Cite news|title=UN urges Venezuela’s rival political leaders to resume talks|url=https://apnews.com/76b2c3f2afa14aaa6f661dc10c4ee11c|last=Lederer|first=Edith M.|date=2020-05-20|access-date=2020-05-20|url-status=live|work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The United States doubled down on its previous denials of any involvement in the operation, and accused the Maduro government of using the event as a pretext to persecute political dissidents and distract from other problems in Venezuela. Russia reasserted its assessment that the claims of the United States government that it had no knowledge of the operation were dubious in light of the attackers' plans to fly their captives to the United States. Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, asked how does the attack correlate with the "all options are on the table" messages.<ref name="AP-UN-urge-resume" />
*{{flag|United States}}: Various US officials have denied the accusations made by the Maduro administration.<ref name="reutersTrumpdenies2" />
**President [[Donald Trump]] said that the incident "has nothing to do with our government."<ref name="guardianTrumpdenies" /><ref name="reutersTrumpdenies2" /> Speaking on [[Fox News]], Trump said "If I wanted to go into Venezuela, I wouldn't make a secret about it." and said that the operation would be called an "invasion" if he sends an army into Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Riley-Smith|first=Ben|date=8 May 2020|title=Donald Trump denies being behind bungled Venezuelan coup plot|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/08/donald-trump-denies-behind-bungled-venezuelan-coup-plot/|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref>
**Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] said that there was no US government direct involvement in this operation and added: "(If) we'd have been involved, it would have gone differently." Regarding the detention of two Americans, Pompeo said that the US will use "every tool" available to secure the return of Americans if they are being held in Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Spetalnick|first=Matt|last2=Pamuk|first2=Humeyra|date=6 May 2020|title=U.S. will use 'every tool' to secure release if any Americans held in Venezuela: Pompeo|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-security-usa/us-will-use-every-tool-to-secure-release-if-any-americans-held-in-venezuela-pompeo-idUSKBN22I2DM|url-status=live|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
**Secretary of Defense [[Mark Esper]] told reporters at [[the Pentagon]] that "the United States government had nothing to do with what's happened in Venezuela in the last few days."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sisk|first=Richard|date=6 May 2020|title=US Not Involved in Bizarre Venezuela Coup Attempt, SecDef Insists|website=Military|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/05/06/us-not-involved-bizarre-venezuela-coup-attempt-secdef-insists.html|url-status=live|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
**A State Department spokesperson said that Maduro government has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela. It also said that there was "little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goodman|first=Joshua|last2=Smith|first2=Scott|date=2020-05-03|title=Ex-Green Beret claims he led foiled raid into Venezuela|work=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://apnews.com/5f44624bb7442d85e431cd64a4aed3a8|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
{{Portal|Venezuela}}
*[[Machurucuto incident]]
*[[Attack on Fort Paramacay]]
*[[Caracas helicopter incident]]
*[[Colombia–Venezuela relations]]
*[[El Junquito raid]]
*[[Golpe Azul]]
*[[2018 Caracas drone attack]]
* [[2019 Venezuelan uprising attempt]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
{{Bolivarian Venezuela Crisis|state=collapsed}}
Line 350 ⟶ 332:
[[Category:2020 in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Battles in 2020]]
[[Category:Crisis in Venezuela]]
[[Category:May 2020 crimes]]
[[Category:May 2020 events in South America]]
[[Category:Venezuelan presidential crisis]]
[[Category:Violence in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Violent non-state actor incidents in South America]]
[[Category:Insurgencies in South America]]
[[Category:Rebellions in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Covert operations]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2020]]
[[Category:Political repression in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving Venezuela]]
[[Category:Diplomatic incidents]]
[[Category:International maritime incidents]]
[[Category:Colombia–Venezuela relations]]
[[Category:United States–Venezuela relations]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gideon_(2020)"