An unidentified U.S. soldier has been detained in Venezuela for allegedly attempting to carry out a plot to destabilize the Latin American country, the State Department said Saturday.
In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, the State Department said it was aware of unconfirmed reports that Venezuelan authorities had detained two more Americans.
The statement came hours after Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said three Americans, two Spaniards and one Czech national were accused of plotting to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and overthrow the Venezuelan government, according to Reuters.
The United States has denied the allegations, with State Department spokesman Matt Miller saying “any assertion that the United States is involved in a plot to overthrow the Maduro regime is completely false.”
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Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has alleged that the CIA led a plot to overthrow the Venezuelan government and kill several members of its leadership. (Getty Images)
The detentions come amid an international dispute over Venezuela's recent presidential election, which was marred by allegations of fraud.
Venezuelan officials declared Maduro the winner in July, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month there was “overwhelming evidence” that Maduro's opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received the most votes.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech in support of his reelection to government supporters gathered at the presidential palace one month after the presidential election, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubilos)
Cabello said at a press conference on Saturday that the detainees were suspected of being involved in plots to assassinate President Maduro and other government officials.
“These groups are trying to seize the country's wealth and the government will respond firmly to any attempts at destabilization,” Cabello said, adding that authorities had seized about 400 U.S.-made rifles.
Protesters raise the Venezuelan flag in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 3, 2017. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
The US State Department denied the allegations.
“The United States continues to support a democratic solution to Venezuela's political crisis,” Miller said.
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Cabello said the two Spanish nationals were detained as they were taking photographs in the town of Puerto Ayacucho.
“These nationals have connections to the central government. They will say that's a lie, but we know,” Cabello said, referring to Spain's intelligence services.
The State Department says a US soldier has been detained in Venezuela in what the country calls a plot to destabilize the government. (REUTERS/Elisabeth Franz/Pool/File Photo)
The Spanish government also denied any involvement, Spanish media reported.
Spanish Foreign Ministry source He told Reuters. It has requested additional information from Venezuelan authorities.
“The Spanish embassy has written verbally to the Venezuelan government, requesting to meet with the detained nationals to confirm their identity and nationality and to find out what specific crimes they are accused of,” the source said.
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Diplomatic tensions between Venezuela and Spain remain high following the results of Venezuela's presidential election on July 28.
A Spanish minister accused Maduro of running a “dictatorship.”
Venezuela is also outraged by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to meet with Gonzalez, who fled to Spain last week after facing threats of arrest from the Maduro government after the election.
Fox News' Nick Kallman and Reuters contributed to this report.
