Venezuela Arrests Foreign Nationals in Assassination Plot

Venezuelan authorities have arrested six foreign nationals, including a US Navy SEAL, Wilbert Joseph Castañeda, accusing them of plotting to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other officials. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed the operation was backed by the CIA and involved over 400 seized firearms meant for destabilization efforts in Venezuela, following the controversial July elections. The U.S. State Department confirmed the detention of Castañeda but denied any American involvement in a plot against Maduro, asserting support for democratic solutions in Venezuela. The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the U.S., exacerbated by U.S. sanctions against Maduro's allies and Spain's recognition of an opposition candidate as the election winner. Cabello suggested that those detained were linked to Venezuela's far-right opposition and involved in an organized arms trafficking network. The situation reflects ongoing political strife in Venezuela and the international scrutiny surrounding its government.