• Venezuela alleges it foiled a plot to bomb the US embassy in Caracas, suggesting a 'false flag' operation.
• President Maduro claims the plot aims to escalate tensions with the US amid military build-up in the Caribbean.
• The US has ramped up military presence and operations against drug trafficking in the region, causing diplomatic strain.
• Jorge Rodriguez stated the US was made aware of the threat via “three different channels.”
• Maduro has requested Pope Leo XIV's assistance in maintaining peace amidst ongoing tensions.

Venezuela warned of an alleged extremist plan to bomb the closed US embassy complex in Caracas, with President Nicolás Maduro stating that security forces foiled a "false flag operation" intending to escalate tensions with the United States. Maduro claimed that two sources, undivulged, suggested that local extremists aimed to place explosives at the embassy, which remains under tight security despite the diplomatic rupture between the two nations since 2019, according to scmp and latimes.

Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela's National Assembly head, warned the US of a serious threat from right-wing extremists. He noted that the embassy's security measures have been reinforced and emphasized the responsibility of the Venezuelan government to protect the diplomatic site, reflecting concerns heightening diplomatic hostilities. Rodriguez's comments were echoed by Maduro in a televised statement, which highlighted the need for vigilance against local terrorist threats, according to indiatimes and trtglobal.

The US State Department did not immediately comment on the situation. The warning from Venezuela coincides with increased military operations by the US in the Caribbean, which Maduro describes as a pretext for military aggression. US operations have included strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking, claiming these areas were intended for drugs bound for the US, as asserted by both indiatimes and aljazeera.

Maduro, maintaining that his government is committed to the security of the embassy, has expressed that tensions with Washington could lead to further escalations unless proactive measures are established. He describes the US operations as not only targeting drug trafficking but also as aiming for regime change within Venezuela, a sentiment that resonates as diplomatic outreach from Washington appears to be dwindling under President Trump's orders. Security measures remain a priority as international scrutiny intensifies over the Maduro administration, according to indiatimes and latimes.