Venezuela has found itself at the center of a spiraling crisis, alleging that a plot involving U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals sought to destabilize the nation and potentially overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan government, still reeling from contested elections earlier this year, claimed on Saturday that it had seized 400 U.S. rifles and arrested multiple individuals, including Americans, in connection with this supposed plot.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, during a televised press conference, stated that the arrested foreigners include two Spanish citizens, one Czech citizen, and an undisclosed number of Americans. The arrests, Cabello suggested, were part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the CIA to undermine Maduro's government.
The U.S. State Department quickly responded, categorically denying any involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro. "Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false," a State Department spokesperson asserted. They further confirmed the arrest of one U.S. military member in Venezuela and acknowledged unconfirmed reports of two additional U.S. citizens being detained. The State Department is actively seeking more information on the situation.
This unfolding drama comes against the backdrop of Venezuela's disputed presidential election in July, which saw Maduro claiming a third term in office amidst widespread skepticism and outcry from the opposition. The coalition backing opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez has insisted that the election was stolen, with vote tally sheets published online suggesting that Gonzalez had actually won by a significant margin. Despite this, Venezuela's electoral council, closely aligned with Maduro, declared him the victor with 52% of the vote, a result that has been backed by the country's Supreme Court.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has ramped up its pressure on Maduro's government. Just days before the arrests, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 16 Venezuelan officials accused of obstructing the July elections and engaging in human rights abuses. Additionally, the U.S. seized a Venezuelan plane used by Maduro for international travel while another plane linked to him remains under 24-hour surveillance in the Dominican Republic.
The political tension between Venezuela and the U.S. has been further exacerbated by the recognition of Gonzalez as the rightful winner of the July election by Spain's parliament, a move that has angered Maduro's allies. In retaliation, Venezuelan officials have called for the suspension of commercial and diplomatic relations with Spain.
Amidst this political chaos, Gonzalez fled to Spain last week after an arrest warrant was issued against him, accusing him of terrorism, conspiracy, and other crimes. The Maduro administration, which has been accused of cracking down harshly on dissent, has already arrested around 2,400 protesters and many others are fleeing the country.
This latest incident with the arrests of Americans and other foreign nationals adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. The Maduro government has a history of using imprisoned Americans as bargaining chips to secure concessions from the U.S. In 2023, for instance, Maduro released 10 Americans in exchange for a presidential pardon for Alex Saab, a close ally detained in Florida on money laundering charges.
