WASHINGTON: A US Navy sailor has been detained by Venezuelan law enforcement, the US Department of Defense official said on Wednesday, at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
The sailor, who was reportedly on personal travel to Venezuela around August 30, was taken into custody amid strained relations between the two countries. The US official, who requested anonymity, provided limited details about the circumstances of the sailor’s detention. Another US official noted that the Navy is investigating the situation.
This incident is part of a broader pattern in recent years where US military personnel have been detained in nations with strained relations with the United States. Previous cases include detentions in North Korea and Russia.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have been particularly tense following disputed elections in Venezuela. In July 2023, incumbent President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the presidential election, a result that has been widely contested.
The elections led to significant unrest, with over two dozen people killed and more than 2,400 arrested. The opposition claims to have won in a landslide, while many international observers and governments, including the US and the European Union, have not recognized the election results.
The Biden administration had previously reached an agreement with Maduro to ease sanctions if the Venezuelan leader allowed for free and fair elections. However, the US reimposed most of these sanctions after concluding that Maduro did not meet the conditions outlined in the deal. The situation further deteriorated this week when the US seized a private aircraft linked to Maduro in the Dominican Republic, a move condemned by Venezuela as “piracy.”
Meanwhile, the US State Department has warned American citizens regarding travel to Venezuela. The advisory highlights the high risk of wrongful detention and other dangers associated with travel to the country.
“There is a high risk of wrongful detention of US nationals in Venezuela,” the advisory notes. “Security forces have detained US citizens for up to five years,” it adds.
In May, US soldier Gordon Black was arrested in Vladivostok, Russia, following an altercation with a Russian woman he had been dating. Black was detained after being accused of physical assault and theft.
Another soldier, Travis King, crossed into North Korea from South Korea in July 2023 and was subsequently expelled by North Korea. The US Army charged King with desertion and other crimes, and he has reportedly reached a plea deal on several of the charges.
