Venezuela authorities have arrested five foreign nationals in connection with an alleged plot to destabilize the government. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the detentions on Thursday, accusing the individuals of engaging in a scheme orchestrated by foreign powers to undermine President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The arrested individuals include three Americans, a Bolivian, and a Peruvian. According to Cabello, the detainees were involved in what he described as a “destabilization campaign,” which allegedly included espionage, subversion, and coordination with anti-government forces. The arrest is part of a larger wave of detentions that has followed Venezuela’s controversial July presidential election, which international observers and opposition figures have widely condemned as fraudulent.
In his televised address, Cabello claimed that the plot involved U.S. intelligence agencies, though he provided no direct evidence to support his allegations. He did not specify the exact timing or circumstances of the arrests but mentioned that one of the Americans had been apprehended in the volatile border state of Zulia, an area known for both its political unrest and smuggling activity.
Venezuela has long been a flashpoint in Latin American geopolitics, with relations between Caracas and Washington deteriorating over the past decade. The latest arrests are likely to further strain the already tense relationship between the two countries, as Cabello accused the United States of orchestrating the plot through its intelligence services.
“The detained foreigners speak Spanish perfectly, a necessary requirement for them to involve themselves in communities,” Cabello said, alluding to a broader narrative that the United States is fomenting rebellion in Venezuela by embedding operatives within local populations. He did not, however, provide specific details of the detainees’ alleged activities or evidence linking them to U.S. intelligence.
The U.S. State Department quickly responded to the allegations, strongly condemning the arrests and rejecting any involvement in anti-government activities. In a press briefing, a spokesperson emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to the safety and security of its citizens abroad and called for the immediate release of the Americans.
“The safety and security of American citizens anywhere around the world is our first priority,” the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. government would pursue all available diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detainees.
The CIA, which Cabello specifically accused of leading the operation, also issued a statement denying any involvement in the alleged plot. This is not the first time Venezuelan authorities have accused the U.S. intelligence community of undermining Maduro’s government; similar accusations have surfaced in the past, particularly during periods of heightened political tension.
This latest episode is part of a recurring narrative in Venezuelan politics, where accusations of foreign interference, particularly from the United States, are frequently used by government officials to explain internal dissent and opposition movements. Cabello, one of the most powerful figures in Maduro’s government, has been at the forefront of promoting the idea that foreign mercenaries and intelligence operatives are trying to overthrow Venezuela’s socialist regime.
In fact, just last month, Cabello made similar claims when he announced the arrest of a group of foreign nationals, including three Americans, two Spaniards, and a Czech national, accusing them of planning to assassinate Maduro. He labeled the detainees as “mercenaries” and claimed that hundreds of weapons had been seized as part of the operation. The U.S. government categorically denied those allegations as well, calling them “baseless” and politically motivated.
Venezuela’s government, increasingly aligned with Russia and China, has repeatedly pointed to U.S. involvement in past coup attempts and alleged plots as evidence of Washington’s ongoing campaign to destabilize the country. The most notorious of these accusations stemmed from a failed 2019 coup attempt, in which Venezuelan officials claimed U.S.-backed forces attempted to remove Maduro from power. Although the U.S. supported the opposition leader Juan Guaidó, Washington has denied any direct involvement in military efforts to topple the regime.
The arrests come in the wake of Venezuela’s highly disputed July presidential election, in which Maduro claimed victory in what the opposition and international observers have described as a deeply flawed process. According to official reports from the National Electoral Council (CNE), Maduro won a decisive victory, but the CNE has not published detailed vote tallies. This has fueled widespread skepticism about the legitimacy of the election.
The opposition candidate, Edmundo González, has asserted that he was the true winner of the election, citing internal data that allegedly shows he received the majority of votes. The international community, including organizations such as the Carter Center, has voiced concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, with many arguing that it did not meet international standards for free and fair elections.
“The poll did not meet international standards of electoral integrity,” the Carter Center said in a report. Other organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have also raised alarms about the government’s heavy-handed response to post-election protests, which erupted across the country following the announcement of Maduro’s victory.
The election result triggered a new wave of protests, which were met with harsh repression by security forces loyal to Maduro. Since the election, more than 2,400 people have been detained for participating in anti-government demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch. Many of the detained protesters have been charged with serious crimes, including terrorism, incitement to hatred, and resistance to authority.
Human rights groups have accused the Maduro government of using the justice system to silence dissent and criminalize opposition to his rule. The arrests of foreign nationals are being seen by many as a continuation of this strategy, with the government portraying opposition to Maduro as part of a larger foreign-backed conspiracy.
“The government’s narrative is clear: anyone who opposes them is either a terrorist or a foreign mercenary,” said Tamara Taraciuk Broner, acting deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch. “This tactic not only serves to justify the crackdown on dissent but also to distract from the deep-rooted economic and social crises that the country is facing.”
The recent arrests mark yet another low point in Venezuela’s already fragile relations with the United States and other Western nations. Washington, which does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela, has imposed a series of economic sanctions on the country in an effort to pressure the regime into allowing free and fair elections. In response, Maduro has sought closer ties with allies such as Russia, China, and Iran, further deepening Venezuela’s isolation from the Western hemisphere.
As Venezuela has grown increasingly close to these global powers, its role in the broader geopolitical landscape has shifted. The country has become a key player in the United States’ ongoing rivalry with Russia and China, with both nations seeing Maduro’s government as a strategic ally in their efforts to counterbalance U.S. influence in Latin America.
For its part, the U.S. has continued to call for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, with President Joe Biden’s administration maintaining a firm stance on the need for political reform. However, direct intervention in Venezuela remains a politically fraught option, and Washington has largely focused on diplomatic efforts, sanctions, and support for opposition figures like González and Guaidó.
As the political crisis in Venezuela drags on, the country faces an uncertain future. The arrest of foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, could further complicate diplomatic relations and make it even more difficult to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Meanwhile, ordinary Venezuelans continue to suffer under the weight of hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, and widespread poverty.
The opposition, though emboldened by international support, remains fragmented and lacks a clear strategy for unseating Maduro. Protests continue, but with many leaders imprisoned or forced into exile, the movement faces significant challenges in mobilizing sustained resistance.
The Venezuelan government handles the latest wave of arrests and whether international pressure will force it to release the detainees. For now, the accusations of foreign interference and the growing repression of dissent only deepen the divisions within the country, leaving Venezuela’s political future more uncertain than ever.
