Venezuela has detained several Americans as tensions with US rise

3 comments

1. [Venezuelan security forces have detained at least five Americans](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/01/politics/detained-americans-venezuela-maduro?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit) in recent months as the US has built a pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a US official familiar with the matter told CNN.

   The circumstances of the individual cases vary, and some could have been involved in drug smuggling, the official said. US officials are still collecting information about what the Americans were doing in Venezuela and at the time of their detention, the official added.

   Trump administration officials believe that the Maduro regime is detaining the Americans to build leverage against the US, the official said, as the pressure campaign against the Venezuelan leader — including the US strikes on drug boats, a CIA strike on Venezuelan port facility and recent oil blockade — has intensified in recent months.

   The tactic mirrors that of Russia, Venezuela’s longtime ally, which has detained numerous Americans on Russian soil in recent years to use as leverage in Moscow’s tense relations with the US.

   The State Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

   Trump administration officials have resisted saying that they are actively seeking regime change in Venezuela but have accused Maduro of being illegitimate and a narco-trafficker. The administration has been increasing pressure on Maduro, including the “blockade” of sanctioned oil vessels and other financial tactics.

   In December the State Department announced two sets of sanctions against Maduro’s family members, targeting three of Maduro’s nephews, his sister-in-law and other relatives.

   Also in December, the US conducted its first strike on a land target in Venezuela, hitting a port facility in a CIA drone strike, CNN reported.

2. While Venezuela obviously will need to respond to what the US is doing, detaining Americans is probably one of the fastest ways to make the American public actually down with military action.

3. Can you honestly blame them? tRUMP is constantly threatening actions to “invade” Venezuela daily and wanting to mirror the assault on Ukraine by Vladimir; and annex this South American country to get at their OIL and other natural resources. tRUMP is like a dictator “lite” because he is so stupid and easily appeased. ( FIFA’s peace prize)

   He is a world-wide joke and the rest of the world is astonished how we, the US citizens allowed this to happen; and they will and are placing all of the blame on the American people.

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