Acting Pentagon chief scraps Europe trip over Venezuela

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan will no longer travel to Europe and will remain in Washington to help support actions in Venezuela, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

"He has determined remaining present in DC would allow him to more effectively coordinate with NSC and the State Department in Venezuela and to continue coordination with DHS for support along the Southwest border," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said of the situations in Venezuela and the U.S. border crisis with Mexico.

Shanahan was scheduled to travel to Europe for ceremonies noting the change in command for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe and the U.S. European Command. He also planned to travel to the U.K. to meet his British counterpart Gavin Williamson.

The Pentagon has yet to play any role in Venezuela, however, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated Wednesday that military action in the country is possible, after the U.S. threw its support behind an ongoing military uprising, led by opposition leader Juan Guaido, aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.

*Kasim Ileri contributed to this report