US plans to build military base in Venezuela
US President Donald Trump's administration is holding talks with Venezuela on an agreement that would involve a long-term deployment of American troops in the country.
Operativ Media reports, citing sources in The New York Times.
According to the report, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the effort to draft the military accord, which is a status of forces agreement. The duration of the troop deployment, stationing locations, and other specifics are expected to be defined in subsequent documents.
However, it remains unclear whether the US will build and maintain new military bases in Venezuela or utilize existing local bases.
An unnamed US State Department official said Washington intends to expand security cooperation with Venezuela, but stressed that no talks regarding military bases are currently being conducted.
Experts interviewed by The New York Times noted that the initiative to deploy American troops in the country could face a number of challenges.
In their view, the presence of US military personnel could fuel anti-American sentiment in Venezuela. Additionally, the country reportedly lacks suitable infrastructure for troop deployment.
The experts also highlighted that the US military has not cooperated with Venezuela's armed forces for nearly 10 years, and that rebuilding those ties will take time.
