The United States has categorically rejected claims made by Venezuelan officials that the CIA masterminded a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other senior members of his administration. These allegations surfaced after Venezuelan authorities detained six foreign nationals on charges of conspiring to destabilize the country. Among those arrested were three US citizens, two Spaniards, and one Czech national, whom Venezuela’s Interior Minister described as “mercenaries.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated that the detainees had been working with the CIA and foreign mercenaries in an effort to assassinate top government officials, including Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. Cabello further alleged that hundreds of weapons had been seized from the suspects as part of an operation to thwart the plot. “The CIA is leading this operation, and that does not surprise us,” he said during a press conference on Saturday.
Venezuelan Claims of a Broader International Conspiracy
Cabello’s accusations come amid escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States, as well as other nations such as Spain, which have increasingly criticized Maduro’s government for its human rights abuses and undemocratic practices. Cabello claimed that the Spaniards arrested were linked to Spain’s National Intelligence Centre (CNI), further deepening the diplomatic rift between Venezuela and Spain. However, Spanish government sources swiftly denied the claim, telling local media that the individuals in question were not affiliated with Spanish intelligence.
“Spain denies and categorically rejects any insinuation that it is involved in a political destabilisation operation in Venezuela,” a source from the Spanish government told AFP, underscoring the broader rejection of Venezuela’s allegations by European nations. The Czech government has yet to comment on the involvement of its national in the alleged plot. However, the arrest of foreign nationals in such a sensitive political case has raised eyebrows internationally, prompting calls for transparency from Caracas.
US Denies Involvement and Calls Allegations “Categorically False”
In response to the Venezuelan accusations, the US government swiftly dismissed the allegations as unfounded. A spokesperson for the State Department referred to the claims as “categorically false” and reiterated that the United States had no involvement in any plot to assassinate Maduro. Despite rejecting the allegations, the State Department did confirm that a US military member was among those detained in Venezuela and acknowledged “unconfirmed reports” of two additional American citizens also being held.
The spokesperson emphasized that Washington remains committed to finding a peaceful, democratic solution to Venezuela’s political crisis, rather than engaging in covert or violent actions. “We continue to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela, and any claims to the contrary are simply false,” the spokesperson said.
Diplomatic Feud Deepens Between Venezuela and Spain
The Venezuelan government’s allegations against Spain come on the heels of a worsening diplomatic feud between the two nations, which escalated after Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the Venezuelan government as a “dictatorship” earlier in the week. These comments sparked outrage in Caracas, where Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil summoned the Spanish ambassador to issue a formal protest. Gil called Robles’ remarks “insolent, meddling, and rude,” suggesting that relations between Spain and Venezuela were deteriorating rapidly.
Adding further strain to this relationship, opposition leader Edmundo González, who many believe was the rightful victor in Venezuela’s contested July elections, fled to Spain to seek political asylum. According to opposition leader María Corina Machado, González’s decision to leave Venezuela was driven by a need to “preserve his freedom, his integrity, and his life.”
The July election, which was marred by widespread allegations of fraud and vote manipulation, has been a flashpoint for the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela. While the National Electoral Council (CNE), which is closely aligned with the Maduro government, declared Maduro the winner, the opposition has maintained that González was the true victor. Data published by opposition sources suggests that González garnered more votes than the official tallies indicate, further fueling accusations of electoral fraud.
The allegations of a CIA plot to assassinate Maduro also come in the wake of new sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela’s senior government officials. On Thursday, Washington announced punitive measures targeting 16 high-ranking Venezuelan officials, citing their involvement in “Maduro’s fraudulent and illegitimate claims of victory” in the July election, as well as their roles in suppressing dissent and cracking down on free expression.
The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the international community to isolate Maduro’s government and pressure it to hold free and fair elections. In addition to the US, countries across Europe and Latin America have increasingly voiced concerns over the erosion of democratic norms in Venezuela under Maduro’s leadership.
As tensions have risen, both sides have traded accusations of foreign interference and destabilization efforts. The Venezuelan government has repeatedly accused the US of plotting to overthrow Maduro, often blaming international actors for the country’s ongoing economic crisis and internal unrest. Meanwhile, the US and its allies have condemned Maduro’s government for human rights abuses, economic mismanagement, and undermining democratic processes.
Arrest of Foreign Nationals and Claims of Mercenary Involvement
The arrest of six foreign nationals in Venezuela is likely to draw further international attention to the country’s deepening political crisis. According to Cabello, the detainees had been in contact with “French mercenaries” from Eastern Europe and were planning “terrorist acts” to destabilize the country. Cabello claimed that more than 400 rifles were seized during the operation, and he linked the detained foreigners to a larger network of international mercenaries allegedly working to overthrow the Venezuelan government.
“These two detainees even tell us about a group of mercenaries they are looking for to bring to Venezuela with very clear objectives to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, myself, and another group of comrades who are leading our party and our revolution,” Cabello alleged during the press conference.
The Venezuelan government has used the arrests as a pretext to ramp up security measures, warning of potential further plots against the administration. However, critics argue that the Maduro government frequently uses claims of foreign plots as a way to distract from internal problems, including widespread poverty, hyperinflation, and a collapse in basic services that have left millions of Venezuelans struggling to survive.
Venezuela’s Political and Economic Struggles
Venezuela has been mired in a severe political and economic crisis for years, with Maduro’s government facing widespread accusations of authoritarianism, electoral fraud, and gross economic mismanagement. Since taking office in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez, Maduro has presided over a country that has seen its once-thriving oil industry collapse, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic goods.
The economic crisis has been exacerbated by US sanctions, which have targeted Venezuela’s oil exports, the lifeblood of the country’s economy. While the sanctions are aimed at pressuring Maduro to step down and allow for free elections, critics argue that they have disproportionately harmed ordinary Venezuelans, pushing millions into poverty and forcing millions more to flee the country.
At the same time, Maduro has maintained a tight grip on power, using the military and security forces to quash dissent and suppress opposition movements. Despite these efforts, opposition leaders such as María Corina Machado have continued to challenge the regime, calling for international support to restore democracy in Venezuela.
The detentions of foreign nationals in Venezuela and the subsequent allegations of a CIA-backed assassination plot have placed the country at the center of a new diplomatic firestorm. Spain, in particular, has requested more information from the Venezuelan government about the arrests and has asked for consular access to the detained Spaniards. However, given the strained relations between the two countries, it remains unclear whether such access will be granted.
The international community is closely watching how the situation unfolds, with governments in Europe and the Americas expressing concern over the political instability in Venezuela. As both the US and Spain continue to deny involvement in any plot against Maduro, questions remain about the fate of the detained foreign nationals and the veracity of the Venezuelan government’s claims.
The broader geopolitical implications of the arrests and the accusations leveled by the Venezuelan government underscore the ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the West. With diplomatic relations already at a low point, the latest developments are likely to further complicate efforts to resolve Venezuela’s political crisis and restore stability to the troubled nation.
