Venezuela Arrests Another US Citizen Over Alleged Plot Against Maduro

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Facts

  • Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced in the National Assembly on Tuesday that a fourth US citizen was arrested in connection with an alleged plot 'against Venezuela' that would overthrow and kill Nicolás Maduro.[1][2]
  • According to Cabello, the unnamed American man had previously visited the country and was detained after taking photos of key electrical and oil infrastructure and military units.[3][4]
  • This comes as authorities in Venezuela said on Saturday that six foreigners — including a US Navy SEAL, two Spanish citizens, and a Czech national — had been arrested for plotting 'violent actions' to 'destabilize' the country.[5][6]
  • Cabello also alleged on Tuesday that the CIA and Spain's National Intelligence Center were behind the alleged plot that he claims includes sex workers, organized crime, and opposition members.[3][4]
  • The Czech Republic, Spain, and the US— the latter two of which denied any involvement in any such plans — asked on Monday for information regarding their detained citizens, which Maduro claimed had all confessed.[7][8]
  • Since the socialist Maduro was declared the winner of the July presidential election despite claims the opposition candidate was the actual winner, diplomatic tensions have increased between Venezuela and many countries in Europe and the Americas.[9][8]

Sources: [1]CBS, [2]teleSURenglish, [3]Politico, [4]Washington Post, [5]CNN, [6]New York Post, [7]Anadolu Agency, [8]France 24 and [9]Reuters.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Los Angeles Times and Economist. Following Maduro's manipulation of the July 28 presidential election, Venezuela is rapidly transitioning into a totalitarian state — and the regime has alleged a coup to blame the US and divert attention from its unprecedented repression at home. If anyone is resorting to force to overturn the will of the people, it's Maduro and his allies.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by MintPress News and Peoplesdispatch. It's no surprise that the US is trying hard to pressure and overthrow Venezuela's legitimate socialist government, as that has been the case for the past decades. The US has long sought to bring Venezuela back into the US sphere of influence — and at best, Washington has conveniently failed to prevent this plot from being planned on its territory.

Predictions