The buildup of U.S. military forces near Venezuela a nd a series of deadly attacks on suspected drug-trafficking boats in waters off its coast has raised the spectre of a coup or invasion against the South American country.
The Trump administration has made no secret of the fact that it wants to see Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro out of power. Trump has called Maduro a drug lord and also accused Venezuela of emptying its prisons into the U.S., and exporting drugs into the country.
Trump has also said he was considering carrying out land operations on the country. This has led to speculation that the U.S. could try to orchestrate some sort of coup, or launch a military invasion to oust the leader. Yet that still appears unlikely, some experts say, as any military action launched by the Trump administration would face significant resistance.
“In terms of sending in the U.S. military to defeat the Venezuelan military and occupy the country, I don't see it,” said William LeoGrande, a professor of government at American University in Washington, D.C., and an expert on Latin America.
While the U.S.
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