The failed coup attempt in Bolivia was likely a “direct outgrowth” of Bolivian President Luis Arce’s appearance at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum earlier this month, and the United States was possibly involved, says retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official Larry Johnson.

“The timing of it coming three-four weeks after the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, in which the Bolivian President Arse was prominently featured at the main event with President [Vladimir] Putin, [is important]” Johnson notes, referring to the coup attempt. “So, it could be, this was an attempt to again, create some additional embarrassment going after, dethroning a guy, who was associated so closely with President Putin.”