Venezuela: 6 foreign nationals including 3 US & 2 Spanish citizens held over alleged plot to oust Maduro

Venezuela stirred major commotion after it was reported that the country’s authorities have seized over 400 US rifles and arrested six foreign nationals, including three US citizens. The Latin American nation claimed that the arrested foreigners were linked to an alleged plot to “destabilise” the country after the elections.

According to CNN, the news was confirmed by Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello at a press briefing on Saturday. The minister stated that three Americans, two Spanish nationals, and one Czech citizen were arrested following a raid. The announcement is likely to deepen the country’s already substantial tensions with Spain and the United States following Venezuela’s disputed presidential election in July.

During the press briefing, Cabello said that the group was allegedly involved in terrorist acts, including a plot to assassinate the country’s draconian president, Nicolás Maduro. “These groups seek to seize the country’s wealth, and we as a government will respond firmly to any destabilization attempt,” Cabello said.

The US reacts to the arrests

Shortly after the news broke out, the US Department of State said that it was aware that there was one American military man out of the three who had been arrested by the Venezuelan authorities. In a statement, the department denied the allegations hurled at by the Latin American nation.

“Any claims of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. “The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela. We are seeking additional information. We are closely monitoring the situation,” the official added while declining to provide additional details due to privacy considerations.

What’s the situation in Spain?

A source from the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Reuters that it was asking Venezuela for more information regarding the arrest. Cabello mentioned that the Spanish nationals who were arrested in the case were detained while taking photographs in the town of Puerto Ayacucho.

“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 their nationality and in order to know what they are accused of exactly,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

During the presser, Cabello also issued a scathing warning to Spain. “These citizens have links - we know they will say no, that it is a lie - they have links with the centre,” Cabello said, referring to Spain’s intelligence arm. “Spain will decide what to do if it is going to keep meddling in Venezuela’s affairs,” he added.

The arrest of Spanish nationals came after the Latin American nation recalled its ambassador to Spain this week for consultations and summoned the Spanish ambassador to appear at the foreign ministry. The diplomatic chaos ensued after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of running a “dictatorship,” following a disputed presidential election, Reuters reported.

The South American nation also slammed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for holding talks with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile in Spain last week after being threatened with arrest by Maduro’s regime. Following the July 28 election, the Venezuelan opposition believed that Gonzalez “rightfully” won the elections.

With inputs from Reuters.