Nearly a year after a US-Venezuela prisoner swap raised hopes of improving relations, tensions have resurfaced with Venezuelan authorities detaining at least four US citizens.
Announced in September, the arrests are linked to Venezuelan government claims that Americans and other foreign nationals were involved in a CIA and Spanish intelligence plot to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro. Both the US and Spanish governments have strongly denied the allegations.
Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, has alleged that the detained men, who also included two Spaniards and a Czech national, were part of a unit that assassinated Maduro. They claim the group was motivated by a $15 million reward offered by the US for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro. According to Cabello, the plot involved an active duty US Navy SEAL and a shipment of US-made firearms, which were seized by Venezuelan authorities.
White House spokesman John Kirby confirmed that Wilbert Castaneda, identified by Venezuela as a ringleader, is indeed an active duty US Navy member, but stressed that his visit to Venezuela was a “personal visit”, CNN reported. Was for. Meanwhile, media reports have revealed that Castaneda is a dual US-Mexican citizen and was once a Navy SEAL.
Although Venezuela’s claims are difficult to independently verify, critics argue that Maduro may be reviving old tactics to gain leverage in ongoing diplomatic tensions. In recent years, Maduro has repeatedly accused the US of meddling in Venezuelan affairs, including an attempted assassination by drone in 2018 and several alleged coup attempts. Although these claims have been consistently denied by Washington, Maduro has continued to garner domestic support by portraying the US as a foreign aggressor.
Last year, when several US citizens were released under a prisoner exchange agreement with Venezuela, a US official said, “The Administration has made clear its expectation that additional Americans will not be detained ” However, with the latest arrests, this fragile ceasefire seems to be unraveling.
Some Venezuelan officials are skeptical of Cabello’s claims. A Venezuelan government source said, “I think these are more loose dogs than real involvement of the US government,” referring to the $15 million reward, which could attract “crazy adventurers”. However, President Maduro may aim to use the detainees as pawns in future negotiations, especially as the US elections approach.
Historically, Venezuela has used detained Americans as a bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations, obtaining the release of individuals close to Maduro in exchange for sanctions relief.