The United States has firmly rejected claims by Venezuela that the CIA orchestrated a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the arrests of three US citizens, two Spaniards, and one Czech national, accusing them of being involved in a conspiracy to destabilize the government. Cabello referred to the detainees as “mercenaries” and alleged that the CIA was behind the operation.
Cabello further claimed that the detainees had planned to collaborate with “French mercenaries” from Eastern Europe and were plotting “terrorist acts” against Venezuela. According to him, over 400 rifles were seized as part of the alleged operation, which targeted President Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, and other high-ranking officials.
The US has categorically denied these accusations, with a State Department spokesperson describing the claims as “false.” The spokesperson confirmed the detention of a US military member and noted unverified reports that two other US citizens were also detained in Venezuela. Washington’s response follows its imposition of sanctions on 16 senior Venezuelan officials linked to Maduro’s disputed re-election in July.
The situation has further strained Venezuela’s relations with both the US and Spain. Spain has also denied any involvement in the alleged plot after Venezuela claimed that the two Spaniards arrested were linked to Spain’s National Intelligence Centre (CNI). Spanish government sources have dismissed the accusations, stating that the detainees were not affiliated with any intelligence services.
The arrests come amid heightened political tensions following Venezuela’s July election, which many international observers deemed fraudulent. While Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, opposition figures, including Edmundo González, claim the election was rigged in Maduro’s favor. The opposition has also raised concerns about the regime’s crackdown on dissent, which has drawn widespread international condemnation.
In response to the arrest of the Spanish nationals, Spain’s defense minister, Margarita Robles, referred to Venezuela’s government as a “dictatorship,” leading Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil to summon the Spanish ambassador and describe the remarks as “insolent and meddling.”
As tensions escalate, Spanish authorities have requested more information from Venezuela about the detained individuals and have asked for access to the Spaniards held in custody. Meanwhile, the US reiterated its support for a democratic resolution to Venezuela’s political crisis.
