US Navy Sailor Held by Venezuelan Security Services

Earlier this week, a crisis involving US military personnel occurred abroad. A group of Marines and Navy staff were attacked by a Turkish mob while on port liberty from the USS Wasp warship, which was docked at Izmir in Turkey. Ten Turks from a nationalist political party are reportedly in custody. However, another crisis involving US personnel has now arisen in Venezuela. A US Navy sailor has been detained by Venezuelan security services after traveling there for personal reasons.

Detention Confirmed by US Defense Officials

The detention of the unidentified sailor by Venezuelan law enforcement has been confirmed by two US defense officials. The individual has been in custody since around August 30, as revealed by the Pentagon.

Pentagon's Statement on the Situation

"The U.S. Navy is investigating this and working closely with the State Department," stated the Pentagon. An official explained that "the service member was neither on official travel nor did they have authorized leave to visit Venezuela," as reported by the Associated Press.

US Military Travel Restrictions

US military branches regularly brief their personnel on where they can and cannot visit during leave or liberty. Certain locations, including some in Mexico, have long been off-limits due to high crime rates and the targeting of US military members. Venezuela has also been a no-go area for active duty American military members for several years due to sporadic unrest and subsequent crackdowns by Maduro security forces.

State Department Warning Against Travel to Venezuela

A recent warning from the State Department advises all US citizens to avoid traveling to Venezuela. The warning states that “there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals.” The travel advisory for Venezuela also mentions that “security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years. The U.S. government is not generally notified of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or granted access to U.S. citizen prisoners there.”

Seizure of Nicolás Maduro's Jet

This week, the US Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, Treasury, and Justice announced the seizure of Nicolás Maduro's jet from a runway in the Dominican Republic. The jet was then flown to Florida by US pilots. The US alleges that the $13 million Dassault Falcon 900EX private jet was obtained illegally from a US seller, violating sanctions laws.

Maduro's Response to the Seizure

Maduro accused Washington of engaging in "piracy". A statement issued from Caracas read: "Once again, the authorities of the United States of America are engaged in a criminal practice that cannot be described as anything other than piracy." As relations between the US and Caracas deteriorate, more detentions of Americans may make headlines in the coming months, especially after Washington accused Maduro of "stealing" the recent national election.

Bottom Line

The detention of a US Navy sailor in Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro's jet highlight the escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela. These incidents raise questions about the safety of US citizens traveling in Venezuela and the future of US-Venezuela relations. What are your thoughts on these developments? Share this article with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.