CARACAS, Venezuela: The United States, Spain, and the Czech Republic have demanded information from Venezuela regarding the arrest of six foreign nationals accused of plotting to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro. On Saturday, Venezuelan authorities announced the detention of three Americans, two Spaniards, and a Czech, accusing them of ties to US and Spanish intelligence agencies as well as opposition groups.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that 400 rifles were seized during the arrests. Maduro alleged that the detainees had “confessed” to the plot, describing them as “terrorist tourists” engaging in “explosive tourism.” He asserted that the US government underestimated Venezuela’s ability to thwart the alleged plan.
The United States and Spain have strongly denied involvement in the conspiracy. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed the detention of a US military member and stated the US was seeking more information. Spain’s foreign ministry requested clarification about the charges against its two citizens, while the Czech government sought consular access for its detained national.
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Tensions between Venezuela and both Washington and Madrid have escalated since the disputed July 28 presidential election, which Maduro is accused of rigging. Following the arrest of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who was later granted asylum in Spain, Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Madrid, further straining diplomatic relations.
These arrests highlight the ongoing diplomatic and political crisis in Venezuela, where Maduro’s government has faced widespread condemnation for its authoritarian tactics and election manipulation.
