Britain’s embassy in Caracas refused repeated pleas for help from Venezuela’s ousted president Hugo Chávez during the April 2002 coup that briefly removed him from power, according to newly released documents from UK Declassified. The files, obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the UK Foreign Office, reveal London’s cautious stance as Caracas descended into chaos.
On 11 April 2002, dissident military officers and opposition figures, with support from Washington, forced Chávez out of office. For 47 hours he was removed from power before massive public demonstrations restored him to the presidency. During that period, Chávez personally contacted the British ambassador in Caracas, John Hughes, and requested assistance to ensure his safety. The documents show he also asked to be flown to Havana, Cuba, with Cuban officials urging the embassy to provide protection and accompany him to the airport.
Despite these appeals, embassy officials declined to act. They cited concerns about a backlash from wealthier residents of Caracas, many of whom supported the coup, and noted a power vacuum that made intervention risky. The ambassador also judged that Chávez’s life was not in immediate danger and recommended against taking hasty action, according to the UK Declassified documents.
Shortly after his pleas, Chávez was detained by coup forces and held at a military base. The Foreign Office later noted that with him under arrest, any assistance to secure his travel no longer arose. He was eventually restored to power after widespread public mobilization and the collapse of the interim government.
