Venezuela has announced the arrest of six foreign nationals, including a US Navy SEAL, in connection with an alleged scheme to "destabilize" the nation, which has been grappling with a political crisis following contested elections earlier this year.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the CIA of orchestrating a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. The US State Department quickly dismissed the accusation as "completely unfounded."
This development comes amid a standoff between Maduro's government and the opposition, with many Latin American leaders and the United States refusing to acknowledge his disputed election victory. The aftermath has seen widespread protests and the arrest of thousands.
In a Saturday press conference, Cabello named the Navy SEAL as William Joseph Castañeda Gómez, who he claimed led the mission. Two other Americans, David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan, were also detained, along with Spanish nationals José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme, and Czech citizen Jan Darmovzal. Venezuelan officials reported confiscating 400 US-made rifles linked to the alleged conspiracy.
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At a news conference, Cabello claimed that the CIA was leading the operation, with assistance from Spain’s National Intelligence Center. "This doesn't surprise us at all," he remarked, alleging the plot had "clear objectives to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro" along with other top Venezuelan officials, including himself and the vice president.
In response, the US State Department denied the allegations. A spokesperson acknowledged the arrest of a US military member in Venezuela and stated they were "aware of unverified reports of two additional US citizens being detained" in the country.
"Any suggestions of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are entirely false," the spokesperson said, reaffirming that the US remains committed to a democratic resolution to Venezuela's political crisis. The department is currently seeking further details on the matter.
Meanwhile, a Spanish foreign ministry source told Reuters that Spain had formally requested more information from Venezuela. "The Spanish embassy has sent a formal note to the Venezuelan government requesting access to the detained citizens to verify their identities, nationalities, and the charges against them," the source explained, under the condition of anonymity.
Additionally, the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to CNN that a Czech national was among those arrested in Venezuela. As the country lacks an embassy in Venezuela, the Czech embassy in Bogotá has been in touch with the detained individual’s family.
Escalating Political Crisis in Venezuela
Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of its July presidential election, in which Maduro claimed victory for a third term amid widespread international doubt and strong objections from the nation's opposition.
The opposition coalition supporting leader Edmundo Gonzalez alleges that the election was rigged, sharing vote tally records online that experts say suggest Maduro lost by a significant margin.
While the US has recognized Gonzalez as the candidate who garnered the most votes, it has stopped short of officially acknowledging him as Venezuela's president-elect.
Last week, Gonzalez fled to Spain after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant against him on charges of terrorism, conspiracy, and other serious crimes.
In response, the US imposed sanctions on several Venezuelan officials linked to Maduro, accusing them of obstructing the election process.
Additionally, the US seized a Venezuelan plane frequently used by Maduro during international trips while it was in the Dominican Republic. Another aircraft tied to Maduro remains under constant surveillance by authorities in the same country, according to a Media source.
Within Venezuela, Maduro's government has escalated its crackdown on dissent, marking the harshest repression in years, according to Human Rights Watch. Protests have been met with severe force, with around 2,400 arrests, prompting many Venezuelans to flee the country.
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