By Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced during a press conference in Caracas on Saturday that Venezuela has arrested three American citizens, two Spanish nationals, and one individual from the Czech Republic, accusing them of being involved in an international plot to overthrow the government.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Venezuela, Spain, and the United States, following the disputed presidential election on July 28, which Caracas claims was won by the incumbent, Nicolas Maduro.
What did the minister allege?
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that the six individuals were arrested on suspicion of planning to “destabilize” Venezuela through “violent actions.”
During the press conference, Cabello stood before a large collection of firearms, saying that “more than 400” weapons, originating from the United States, had been seized.
Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez speaks at a presidential election campaign closing rally in Caracas, Venezuela, July 25, 2024.
“We know that the United States government is linked to this operation,” Cabello asserted. He said that the two Spanish citizens were recently arrested in southwestern Venezuela, in Puerto Ayacucho.
Cabello further alleged that the Americans and the Czech national had also been linked to the plot, which he said involved both American and Spanish intelligence agencies, as well as Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. “They contacted French mercenaries, mercenaries from Eastern Europe, and are conducting an operation to attack our country,” he said.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
No Immediate International Response, Spain Seeks Clarification
During the press conference, Cabello gave comparatively few details, and there was no immediate public response from the governments of the U.S., Spain, or the Czech Republic to Venezuela’s allegations.
However, the Reuters news agency quoted a Spanish Foreign Ministry source as saying that Madrid had reached out for further information and access to the detained individuals.
“The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal note to the Venezuelan government, asking for access to the detained citizens in order to verify their identities and nationalities, as well as to understand the exact charges against them,” Reuters quoted the source as saying.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shake hands in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S.
Tensions High After Disputed Election
Venezuela’s leftist government frequently accuses the U.S., in particular, but also sometimes other foreign forces of plots to overthrow or otherwise sabotage it. However, tensions are particularly high at present in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election in late July, where both the U.S. and Spain have refused to recognize the government’s claim to victory.
Public protests led by the opposition have also been common in Venezuela since the vote.
Spain’s decision to grant opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia political asylum last week further angered the government in Caracas, which also recalled its Spanish ambassador on Thursday. A day earlier, the US issued fresh sanctions against Venezuela, alleging election fraud.
This year’s vote is the third consecutive presidential election in Venezuela leading to a similar domestic and international standoff after what was officially classified as a narrow win for Maduro.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
