Overview

• The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump directed envoy Richard Grenell to halt all contacts with the Venezuelan government effective immediately.
• Grenell had been conducting discreet outreach to test prospects for negotiations and a potential easing of tensions.
• President Nicolás Maduro said Venezuelan authorities are pursuing suspects in an alleged plot to place explosives at the U.S. embassy in Caracas and that Washington was formally notified.
• Maduro characterized the alleged plan as a possible false-flag provocation and said he appealed to the Vatican for help preserving peace.
• The United States has deployed at least eight warships, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, thousands of personnel, and F-35 aircraft in Puerto Rico for a counternarcotics campaign that has included five lethal boat strikes with more than 20 deaths reported.