The commander of the Venezuelan Army Operation Command (CEOFANB), Admiral Remigio Ceballos, said on Saturday that Colombia is preparing to launch an attack on Venezuela, the Orinoco Tribune reported, citing the Twitter account of the CEOFANB leader. Full Text-> AlmasdarNews

An attempt earlier this month to remove Nicolás Maduro from power ended in farcical failure as a seaborne invading force was captured easily following a series of mishaps. World affairs editor Julian Borger tells the bizarre story. Presented by Anushka Asthana with Julian Borger. Full Podcast -> The Guardian

Nicolás maduro, Venezuela’s dictator, always welcomes a distraction from the calamity of his rule. Early this month his enemies provided a good one. Two boats carrying a score of mercenaries attempted to land near Caracas, the capital. In a skirmish on May 3rd, Venezuelan forces killed eight raiders. The next day, two American former soldiers, apparently suffering from seasickness, were among the invaders captured from a skiff as it drifted 20km (12 miles) west of the earlier incursion. During their interrogations, later broadcast on state television, they confessed to taking part in a plot to kidnap Mr Maduro and fly him to the United States. Full Text -> The Economist

Padrino said those arrested were “part of the general scheme” to overthrow Maduro, linking them to a failed sea-borne raid two weeks ago that Caracas said was backed by the United States and Colombia. Thursday’s arrests bring to 91 the number of people detained in what Venezuela said was a botched incursion. Full Text -> YahooNews

“It was at the White House on February 4 of this year, 2020, that Juan Guaido met with Jordan Goudreau” the leftist leader said, referring to the former special forces member who Venezuela has alleged organized and trained a mercenary force to carry out the invasion. The meeting, Maduro said, was “at the order of Donald Trump to come up with the plan of attack.”. Full Text -> YahooNews

Nicolás Maduro’s security forces have continued their roundup of alleged participants in last week’s botched attempt to capture him, with the arrest of three Venezuelan men just west of the capital. The trio was reportedly seized in Carayaca, 35 miles from Caracas in the early hours of Monday, taking the number of detentions to more than 40. The official Twitter account of Venezuela’s Bolivarian national guard claimed the men were “terrorists who entered the country intending to provoke violence”. By Tom Phillips. Full Text -> The Guardian

With regard to other forms of cooperation, to answer your question on the investigation of the invasion of Venezuela by mercenaries tasked with sabotage, terrorist attack and overthrow of the legitimate president, our special services are in contact, and if there is a request, based on relevant agreements, for such assistance in such cases, of course, it will be considered,” Lavrov said at a press conference after the meeting of foreign ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Full Text -> The Nation

Hopefully, Canada will cut its ties with Juan Guaidó now that his true colours have been revealed. By Scott Taylor. Full Text -> The Hill Times

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has accepted the resignation of his Miami-based adviser Juan Rendon, his press team said on Monday, after Rendon acknowledged discussions with a U.S security firm to topple President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido thanked Rendon and another exiled lawmaker, Sergio Vergara, who also resigned from the opposition’s “crisis strategy commission,” for their “dedication and commitment to Venezuela,” without giving a reason for the decision. By Vivian Sequera, Sarah Kinosian, Angus Berwick. Full Text -> Reuters

Force that sought President Maduro’s overthrow trained with broomsticks for rifles, was infiltrated by agents, had scarce food, and was underfunded
By Juan Forero and Kejal Vyas. Full Text -> WSJ