Ahead of President Nicolás Maduro's expected inauguration later this week, two U.S. citizens were among a group of seven individuals arrested in Venezuela on January 7. Maduro has branded the detainees as "mercenaries," adding to the tension surrounding his third-term.
During a speech on Tuesday, Maduro claimed that the detained U.S. citizens were "very high level," though he did not provide further details or evidence to substantiate the claims. The arrests have raised questions regarding their potential motivations and the broader political climate in Venezuela.
"Just today we've captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States," Maduro said, as he prepares to officially take office on Friday. His upcoming inauguration follows a highly disputed election in July 2024, which the opposition claims was rigged, alleging they had won by a landslide.
Despite the public announcement, neither the U.S. Department of State nor Colombia's foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for comment, leaving details about the arrests unclear.
This latest roundup of detainees adds to growing concerns from Venezuelan human rights groups, who have long warned about the country's pattern of arbitrary detentions. These groups have highlighted the troubling trend of a "revolving door" of prisoners, where new arrests occur even as older detainees are released, often including foreign nationals.
Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis, coupled with the strained relations between Maduro's government and Western nations, has fueled tensions within the country. The full details of the arrests remain unclear.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Azerbaijan and Venezuela have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, following high-level talks on economic, political, and multilateral cooperation at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Dozens of Venezuelan migrants have been repatriated from the U.S. under a bilateral agreement with Caracas.
China has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order, which threatens to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. from any country that imports oil from Venezuela.
U.S. officials defended their decision to deploy extraordinary wartime powers to deport 137 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last weekend, despite a federal judge’s temporary block and Venezuelan authorities denying that the individuals were affiliated with criminal gangs.
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
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