Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, on Tuesday, revealed the arrest of seven foreign nationals, including two Americans, accusing them of being mercenaries attempting to sabotage his upcoming inauguration for another six-year term in power.
Maduro alleged that the group, which included two Colombian assassins and three mercenaries allegedly connected to the conflict in Ukraine, was involved in planning undisclosed terrorist activities ahead of the ceremony scheduled for Friday. He made this claim during a televised address, where he also announced a large-scale deployment of police and military forces across the nation to counter any perceived threats.
The president expressed certainty that the suspects would confess to their alleged crimes within hours.
This announcement coincided with a meeting in Washington, D.C., where U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Edmundo González Urrutia, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader living in exile. During their discussions, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to supporting a peaceful return to democracy in Venezuela and strongly criticized any further acts of oppression by Maduro’s regime.
The United States and several other democratic nations in the region have declared their belief that González Urrutia was the legitimate winner of Venezuela’s July presidential election. They allege that the official election results were manipulated to keep Maduro in power.
In response to these developments, the Venezuelan opposition has called for massive protests on Thursday, urging citizens to take to the streets and prevent Maduro from being sworn in for another term.
Maduro, now 62, has held power for nearly 25 years, following in the footsteps of his mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chávez, who governed until his death in 2013. Together, they have maintained a firm grip on Venezuela through a mix of populist rhetoric, contested electoral victories, and the unwavering support of military, police, and paramilitary forces.
