Venezuelan authorities detain U.S. Navy Sailor
The Manhattan skyline is seen in the distance as a U.S. Marine and a member of the U.S. Navy stand on the flight deck of the USS Bataan, a U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, as it arrives in New York Harbor among a parade of ships during Fleet Week 2022. (Reuters Photo)
A U.S. Navy sailor has been detained by Venezuelan law enforcement, a U.S. official revealed on Wednesday, marking another instance of U.S. military personnel being held in nations with contentious relationships with Washington. The sailor’s detention follows recent similar cases in Russia and North Korea, highlighting the increasing risks for U.S. nationals in adversarial countries.
According to an official, who requested anonymity, the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation but has provided limited information regarding the circumstances surrounding the sailor’s detention.
Another U.S. official indicated that the Navy is investigating reports that the sailor was detained around August 30 while on a personal trip to Venezuela. The sailor’s detention coincides with a period of heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, largely due to disputed presidential elections held on July 28.
The election, which declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner, has been met with significant opposition. Claims of electoral fraud have led to widespread protests, resulting in more than two dozen deaths and the arrest of over 2,400 individuals. The U.S., alongside the European Union and several Latin American countries, has refused to acknowledge Maduro’s victory, citing the lack of transparency in the voting process.
The strained relationship between the two countries has been further exacerbated by recent actions taken by the U.S. On Monday, Washington seized a private aircraft used by Maduro in the Dominican Republic, transporting it to Florida. Maduro condemned the seizure as “piracy,” while U.S. officials justified the move as a necessary response to sanctions violations.
In response to an arrest warrant issued by Venezuela for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the U.S. State Department warned of potential further actions against the Maduro government. The State Department also reiterated its advisory against U.S. citizens traveling to Venezuela, highlighting the dangers of crime, unrest, and wrongful detention. The advisory specifically notes the high risk of U.S. nationals being detained without notification or access to U.S. consular services.
The detention of the Navy sailor adds to a growing list of U.S. military personnel recently held in adversarial nations. In May, U.S. soldier Gordon Black was detained in Vladivostok, Russia, after a domestic dispute. Another soldier, Travis King, was detained by North Korean authorities in July 2023 after crossing the border from South Korea. King was later expelled by North Korea and charged with desertion by the U.S. Army.
