Argentina and Venezuela issue arrest warrants for each other’s leaders

Courts in Argentina and Venezuela issued warrants for the arrests of each other’s presidents on Monday, signaling a deepening rift between two ideologically opposed nations.

Argentine President wanted by Venezuela

Venezuela was the first to act, with a Caracas court issuing an arrest warrant for Argentina’s president, Javier Milei. Venezuelan authorities accused Milei of the “theft” of a cargo plane belonging to the Venezuelan company Emtrasur, which was seized in Buenos Aires last year. The court’s warrant also targeted Argentina’s Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Karina Milei, the president’s sister and advisor.

Venezuelan President wanted by Argentina

In a swift response, an Argentine court ordered the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and several of his aides, citing crimes against humanity. This court also requested a red notice from Interpol for their apprehension. According to reports, the Buenos Aires federal court accused Maduro’s administration of orchestrating the kidnapping and torture of Venezuelan citizens, invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction that permits prosecution for serious crimes regardless of where they occur. Among those sought is Diosdado Cabello, the country’s interior minister.

The confrontation reflects the stark ideological divide between the two leaders. Milei, who took office in December 2023, has been a vocal critic of Maduro’s socialist policies, while Venezuela’s government has repeatedly condemned Milei’s “anarcho-capitalist” approach.

Relations between the two nations have soured significantly since Milei’s election. Argentina was one of several countries that did not recognize Maduro’s re-election victory in July, which opposition leaders allege was fraudulent. Following this election, Caracas severed diplomatic ties with Argentina, among other Latin American nations.

The arrest warrant issued by Venezuela centers on the Emtrasur plane, which was grounded in Argentina in June 2022, prior to Milei’s presidency. The Argentine judiciary had approved the plane’s seizure at the request of the United States, which claimed that sanctions were violated during its sale from Iran to Venezuela. Both nations remain under U.S. sanctions.

Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice accused Milei of aggravated robbery, unlawful detention, and interference with civil aviation safety. However, analysts consider the warrant largely symbolic, given that it is unlikely Milei would visit Venezuela, where the warrant is enforceable.

In recent weeks, Maduro’s regime has intensified its rhetoric against critics, alleging U.S. involvement in plots to destabilize his government. The diplomatic fallout from this latest confrontation is likely to reverberate across the region, underscoring the complex and often contentious relationships within Latin American politics.