Two U.S. citizens have been arrested in Venezuela on allegations of “practicing terrorism,” according to President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking on Tuesday, Maduro labeled the Americans as “mercenaries” and claimed they were among seven individuals detained for plotting against his regime. The arrests included two Colombians and three Ukrainians. Details of the charges remain unclear, with no evidence provided by Maduro.
The State Department rejected Maduro’s claims, stating, “Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false.” The department expressed concern for the Americans detained and noted ongoing efforts to gather more information. The names of the detained Americans have not been released.
Maduro’s announcement coincides with mounting international scrutiny of his leadership. Following Venezuela’s July election, which saw Maduro declared the winner for a third term, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and many foreign governments, including the United States, have alleged electoral fraud. Gonzalez’s team published thousands of voting machine results that reportedly show an 80% victory for the opposition. However, Venezuela’s government has refused to release official ballot-box results.
Maduro’s claims of foreign interference have increased in recent months. By September, he accused the CIA of orchestrating a coup and reported seizing weapons and detaining a Navy SEAL. Critics, including former Venezuelan diplomat Isaias Medina, describe these actions as “hostage diplomacy” aimed at suppressing dissent and deflecting attention from Maduro’s contested inauguration.
Maduro’s government has arrested 125 foreign nationals this year, claiming they were “mercenaries.” Observers note that these arrests often lack evidence and serve to justify crackdowns on opposition protests. Medina highlighted the worsening economic and humanitarian crises in Venezuela, stating that Maduro’s tactics seek to intimidate dissenters and consolidate power.
The State Department continues to warn Americans against traveling to Venezuela, citing risks of arbitrary detention and deteriorating security. Following a prisoner exchange in 2023 that released 10 Americans, it remains unclear how many U.S. citizens are currently held in the country.
