Amid escalating tensions between Venezuela and both the United States and Spain, five foreign nationals have been arrested, accused of planning to destabilize Venezuela’s government. The arrests follow Venezuela’s disputed July 28 presidential election, which the opposition claims President Nicolas Maduro rigged.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on Saturday that those arrested include three Americans and two Spaniards. They are suspected of plotting an attack on Maduro and his administration. Cabello accused the United States of being involved in the alleged plot, claiming, “We know that the United States government has links to this operation.”
Cabello also mentioned that the two Spaniards were apprehended in Puerto Ayacucho, and linked the group to intelligence agencies from the U.S. and Spain, as well as Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Maduro has consistently blamed the U.S. for attempting to overthrow him, labeling it as an “imperialist” force conspiring with Venezuelan opposition groups. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has categorically denied any involvement, stating that claims of a plot to oust Maduro are false. A spokesperson confirmed the detention of one U.S. military member and mentioned reports of two additional U.S. citizens held in Venezuela. Spain also dismissed the accusations, with a foreign ministry source denying any role in destabilizing the country.
Cabello further alleged that the detainees had contacted mercenaries from France and Eastern Europe, claiming they intended to launch terrorist attacks. He noted that more than 400 rifles were seized in connection with the plot.
The Czech Republic, whose national was also detained, has not yet responded to the allegations.
Rising Tensions Between Venezuela and the West
Since 2013, Maduro has faced growing opposition both domestically and internationally, following the death of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Despite claiming victory in the most recent election, Maduro has been accused of fraud and has not provided full voting details to back his win. This has led to a standoff with several Western powers.
Tensions with Spain have grown significantly after Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, fled to Spain, claiming threats of arrest. Venezuela responded by recalling its ambassador to Madrid and summoning Spain’s envoy to Caracas after Spanish officials accused Maduro of running a dictatorship.
Similarly, Venezuela’s conflict with the United States has deepened, with Washington imposing new sanctions on 16 Venezuelan officials. The sanctions were imposed due to their alleged interference in a transparent electoral process. Venezuela condemned these sanctions as “aggression,” while Maduro awarded military officers affected by the sanctions.
The election dispute has led to protests across Venezuela, resulting in 27 deaths, 192 injuries, and over 2,400 arrests, including minors. Opposition leader Machado has called for further protests on September 28, urging international recognition of Gonzalez Urrutia as the rightful president.
While Maduro has held onto power, supported by the military and other institutions, his tenure has coincided with severe economic decline. Venezuela’s GDP has dropped by 80% in the last decade, and over seven million citizens have left the country in search of better opportunities.
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