The U.S. State Department has strongly denied allegations of CIA involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This statement comes after Venezuelan authorities arrested six foreigners, including a U.S. Navy SEAL, whom they accused of attempting to destabilize the country amid an ongoing political crisis that has seen widespread protests and accusations of electoral fraud.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello alleged that the CIA orchestrated this plot to assassinate Maduro. He identified the Navy SEAL, Wilbert Castañeda, as the operation’s leader and named two other detained Americans, David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan. Castañeda, a sailor who had traveled to Venezuela, was arrested in Caracas last month. The U.S. authorities have described him as a Mexican-American citizen being investigated for illegal entry into Venezuela.
In addition to the Americans, Venezuelan officials detained two Spanish citizens—José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme—and one Czech citizen, Jan Darmovzal. The authorities also seized 400 U.S. rifles allegedly connected to the purported plot, which were presented during a news conference. Cabello accused the CIA of leading the operation and claimed that Spain’s National Intelligence Center was also involved.
The U.S. State Department labeled the allegations as “categorically false,” emphasizing that the United States continues to support a democratic resolution to Venezuela’s political crisis. The department has acknowledged the detention of a U.S. military member and is seeking more information regarding two additional detained Americans.
A source from the Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed that they are requesting more details from Venezuela, particularly concerning the Spanish citizens’ identities and the nature of their charges. Similarly, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the detention of a Czech citizen and is in touch with the family since the Czech Republic does not have an embassy in Venezuela.
Venezuela has been embroiled in a political crisis since Maduro’s disputed election victory in July. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced Maduro’s win, which was later confirmed by the Supreme Court of Justice. However, the CNE has not released detailed voting data or tally sheets, which many nations consider vital for a transparent electoral process. Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez and his coalition allege that the election was stolen and have released vote tally sheets suggesting that Maduro actually lost by a significant margin.
The U.S. has acknowledged Gonzalez as the candidate who garnered the most votes in the election but has not officially recognized him as the president-elect. The European Union has also voiced skepticism regarding the election’s legitimacy. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the vote as “undemocratic” and characterized the Maduro regime as “dictatorial and authoritarian.” He pointed out that over 2,000 people remain detained in Venezuela post-election, while many opposition leaders face severe restrictions on their activities.
Gonzalez recently fled to Spain after an arrest warrant accused him of terrorism and conspiracy, highlighting the intense pressure opposition figures face in Venezuela. Additionally, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials allegedly obstructing the electoral process. Recently, a Venezuelan plane used by Maduro was seized in the Dominican Republic, while another associated aircraft is under surveillance.
Internally, Maduro’s government has intensified its crackdown on dissent, resulting in what human rights organizations describe as the most severe repression in years. Protests against the regime have been met with harsh responses, leading to approximately 2,400 arrests, while many citizens seek refuge abroad.
This situation underscores the ongoing tensions in Venezuela, where the combination of internal strife, allegations of foreign intervention, and a challenging humanitarian landscape continues to complicate the nation’s path toward stability.
