Trump Officials Consider Power-Sharing Plan to Oust Maduro

The Trump administration has reportedly renewed its campaign to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Bloomberg reported. The news agency said the White House would allegedly drive out the protégé of late president Hugo Chavez through a power-sharing system, meaning they will try to persuade members of Maduro's administration to temporarily share power with the opposition led by Juan Guaido.

Washington relied on a similar strategy last year when Guaido launched a failed coup d' état on 30 April with the help of several military officers. But, according to Bloomberg, this time, they hope that supported by new financial sanctions, this strategy will prove successful.

The Trump administration recently imposed sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil and gas company PDVSA and a subsidiary of Russia's company Rosneft, accusing the latter of helping Venezuela circumvent economic sanctions. Rosneft dismissed the accusations as groundless and said US decision violates international law. 

The Venezuelan government and Juan Guaido's representatives have not yet commented about the potential power-sharing agreement. Last year the White House reportedly had reached an agreement with some members of Maduro's administration, but the White House then said that the officials reneged on the deal.

It's unclear how some members of the Trump administration will react to a power-sharing agreement between Maduro's government and the opposition, as some US officials were reluctant to see Maduro and his inner circle in the new government.