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Türkiye’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli, a key parliamentary ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Saturday likened the U.S. operation in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro to the July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye.
Speaking to CNN Turk, Bahceli said the operation against Maduro was “exactly the same as July 15,” referring to the failed coup attempt carried out by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
“The military intervention carried out by the United States in Venezuela and the attempt to unlawfully and unjustly remove President Nicolas Maduro from power is a conspiracy that is known and familiar to us,” Bahceli said.
“The method targeting Maduro today is exactly the same as the method used in the despicable attempt directly targeting our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while he was in Marmaris during the coup attempt carried out by FETO on July 15, 2016,” he added.
Bahceli said Washington had failed to achieve its objectives in Türkiye due to the will of the Turkish people and was now attempting a similar approach in Venezuela.
“The United States, which failed to achieve a result through the will of the Turkish nation on July 15, 2016, has today attempted a similar move in Venezuela,” he said, adding that commentators should draw attention to the similarities in method.
On the night of July 15, 2016, FETO-linked military officers launched an attempted takeover after their plot was uncovered. Strategic locations in Ankara and Istanbul, including bridges, airports and government buildings, were targeted.
Fighter jets and helicopters bombed the presidential complex, parliament, police headquarters and intelligence facilities. Tanks blocked the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges, and then-Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar was taken hostage after refusing to back the coup.
President Erdogan, who was vacationing in Marmaris, appeared live via FaceTime on CNN Turk and called on citizens to take to the streets. The appeal triggered mass public resistance.
The coup attempt was defeated by dawn, leaving 253 people dead and 2,734 injured, according to official figures.
Earlier Saturday, Venezuela’s government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations in several states and declared a national emergency.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed what he described as a “large-scale” strike, saying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country.
Trump said Washington would oversee Venezuela during an interim period.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said at a news conference in Florida, flanked by senior Cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump said the operation involved overwhelming U.S. military power and described it as one of the most significant displays of American force in decades. He said Maduro and his wife were being held aboard the U.S. Navy ship USS Iwo Jima and would be transferred to New York to face prosecution.
Unnamed U.S. sources told ABC News that Maduro could also be taken to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before being flown to New York.
Trump said no U.S. service members were killed and no equipment was lost during the operation.
When asked how Venezuela would be governed, Trump said his administration would run the country “with a group,” adding that officials would be designated to manage the transition.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed authority following Maduro’s capture. Trump said Rubio had already spoken with Rodriguez, describing the conversation as cooperative.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine said the operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involved more than 150 aircraft and was the result of months of planning.
Several Democratic lawmakers criticized the strikes as illegal, while Rubio said congressional leaders were briefed after the operation, arguing that advance notice would have endangered the mission.
Maduro has denied U.S. accusations of drug trafficking and had previously said he was open to talks. Venezuela’s government has demanded proof of life for the detained president and condemned the U.S. action as a violation of sovereignty.
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