Two Spanish Nationals Arrested in Venezuela Unrelated to Any Plot, According to Madrid – Reuters

MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish foreign ministry source stated on Sunday that two Spanish nationals arrested in Venezuela have no ties to the Spanish secret service, and that Spain is not involved in any efforts to destabilize the South American nation.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on Saturday that the two Spaniards, along with three U.S. citizens and one Czech citizen, were apprehended under suspicion of being connected to an alleged conspiracy aimed at undermining President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

The Spanish official firmly denied any claims of involvement in political destabilization efforts in Venezuela. “The government has clarified that the detained individuals are not associated with the Centre for National Intelligence or any state organization. Spain advocates for a democratic and peaceful resolution to the situation in Venezuela,” the source emphasized.

These arrests could exacerbate the already strained relations between Venezuela, Spain, and the United States in the aftermath of a contentious presidential election held in July.

Cabello claimed in a press conference that the two Spaniards were purportedly linked to Spain’s secret service and involved in a plot to assassinate a local mayor, naming them as José María Basoa and Andrés Martínez Adasne. Photographs of the individuals were broadcast on state television.

Andrés Martínez, the father of one of the detained, told a local newspaper that his son does not work for the Spanish secret service. “My son does not work for the CNI, of course not. We are awaiting information from the consulate and embassy. We still do not know what they are accused of or the reason for their arrest,” he stated.

Cabello also accused the three U.S. citizens and the Czech citizen of involvement in terrorist activities, including alleged plans to assassinate Maduro and other officials. The U.S. State Department responded by categorically denying any American participation in a plot to overthrow Maduro, and confirmed that a member of the U.S. military is among those detained, alongside unverified reports of two additional American citizens in custody.

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat, labeled Maduro’s government as “dictatorial” during an interview with a Spanish television channel on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a source from the Spanish foreign ministry indicated that they are seeking more information from Venezuela regarding the detentions. “The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal note to the Venezuelan government requesting access to the detained citizens to verify their identities and nationality, and to understand the specific allegations against them,” the source revealed, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to Cabello, the Spanish nationals were detained while taking photographs in Puerto Ayacucho.

Tensions have escalated following the recall of Venezuela’s ambassador to Spain for consultations last week and the summoning of the Spanish ambassador after a Spanish minister referred to Maduro’s government as a “dictatorship.”

Caracas has been further incensed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s meeting with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who sought asylum in Spain last week after facing threats of arrest. Relations between Venezuela and the United States have also soured, particularly after Washington recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as the victor of the contentious July 28 election.