In a statement that has sparked skepticism from the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday evening that his security forces successfully thwarted a plot by a "local terrorist group" to detonate an explosive device at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

This revelation further strains relations with the administration of President Donald Trump.

This disclosure coincides with an unprecedented American military escalation in the Caribbean region, where Washington has deployed warships under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, a move described by Caracas as a "direct threat."

The Alleged Plot Details

President Maduro indicated that the warning about the plot came from "two identical sources," which allowed authorities to take action to thwart it.

This information corroborates what was briefly announced by the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly late Sunday.

U.S. Doubt

The United States, on its part, expressed doubts over these claims.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described Maduro's statements as lacking credibility, considering them "another example of Maduro's regime attempting to divert attention from its failures."

A Tense Context

This development follows President Trump's decision to cease all diplomatic communications with Venezuela and his boasting about deadly strikes carried out by his forces against small boats off the Venezuelan coast. Observers suggest that Maduro's announcement about foiling the plot might be an attempt to justify any Venezuelan reaction to American military maneuvers or to garner sympathy amidst what Caracas views as an imminent threat.