Only days after US and Russian officials failed to agree on the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the latter defied US warnings by having the chief of staff of Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido arrested.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister Nestor Luis Reverol claimed the top aide was arrested in connection with a “terrorist” plan to assassinate Maduro. The Venezuelan president himself announced that his government is taking down a “terrorist” network, thereby implying that more arrests could follow.
In response to the incident, Guaido interpreted the fact that he himself had not been arrested as a sign that Maduro’s position has weakened, saying “[e]ither he doesn’t dare to jail me, or he’s not in charge.” The US criticized the arrest, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warning that his government “will hold accountable those involved.”
Read more: A Venezuelan Opposition Aide Has Been Arrested, Prompting Rebuke From the U.S.
