Spain, US deny accusations of plot to assassinate Venezuela’s Maduro

Venezuela’s Minister of Interior and Justice Diosdado Cabello on Saturday accused United States and Spanish intelligence agencies of orchestrating a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. 

In an announcement on live television, the hardline Maduro ally reported that state security forces seized over 400 firearms, which allegedly were to be used in a conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and destabilize the country. 

Cabello also said that three US citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech had been arrested for their participation in the alleged conspiracy. According to the Maduro government, the two Spaniards are agents of the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), Spain’s intelligence agency. 

Washington and Madrid both denied any involvement. A statement from Spain’s Foreign Minister said that Spain “denies and emphatically rejects any insinuation of being involved in a political destabilization operation in Venezuela.” 

The statement affirmed that the two detained Spaniards “are not part of the CNI, or any other state agency.” 

The US State Department also rejected allegations of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) involvement in the plot. A statement confirmed the detention of a US military member and recognized the “unconfirmed reports of two additional US citizens detained in Venezuela.” 

“Any claims of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false. The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela,” the statement added. 

The announcement of the arrests came days after the US announced sanctions on 16 Venezuelan officials, including leaders of the Maduro-affiliated National Electoral Council, Supreme Court and National Assembly.  

According to a statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the officials “impeded a transparent electoral process and the release of accurate election results.” 

Last week, the Spanish parliament recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the election. The move angered Maduro allies who called on the Venezuelan government to cut commercial and diplomatic ties with Spain.

The July 28 presidential election sparked protests within Venezuela that have left hundreds arrested. Venezuela’s electoral council claimed that Maduro won the election with 52% but did not provide any detailed breakdown of the results. The opposition published precinct-level voting tabulations that indicate that González won the election by a wide margin. Despite international pressure, Venezuela’s Maduro-allied Supreme Court ratified his victory in August. Venezuela’s attorney general then filed conspiratory charges against 74 year-old González, who recently fled to Spain after a warrant for his arrest was issued.