Maduro: US Did Not Expect Caracas to Arrest Leader of Terrorist Plot

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro confirmed that Washington “did not expect Caracas to be able to arrest the leader of the operations for the terrorist plan being devised against the country.” The plan involved “the use of more than 400 rifles from the United States and connections with criminal gangs in prisons.”

This came after Venezuela earlier announced the arrest of five people – two Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech – suspected of plotting an attack against Maduro and his government.

Maduro explained that the rifles taken from the United States “are manufactured there, are not for sale and correspond to the official weapons used by the US Navy.”

He added that Washington knows that “fascists in Venezuela have requested these rifles, which were supplied by the CIA, to carry out terrorist attacks.”

In the same context, Maduro confirmed that the detainees in this case “had been convicted and confessed” to the charges brought against them by the Venezuelan authorities. He clarified that they “intended to use the electoral process as a trigger for escalating violence, in line with the plans of the United States and that of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.”

Machado responsible for campaign against Caracas

Of Machado, whom he called the “leader of fascism in Venezuela,” Maduro noted that she “called for new sanctions against the country” and held her responsible for the threats and the psychological campaign against Caracas.

Maduro further asked, referring to Machado: “Who gave the Americans the authority to blackmail and threaten Supreme Court justices, the National Electoral Council and military leaders?”

He also stated that such illegal and unethical actions “only fuel more anti-imperialist sentiments and militancy among the population, rather than creating pressure or fear.” He added: “Sanctions inspire the population’s struggle.”

In this regard, Maduro pointed out that the United States “uses the same strategy in the different countries that it wants to colonize.” He cited Iran, Libya and Haiti as examples of countries where Washington collaborated with criminal gangs in the fight against governments that opposed them.

At regional level

On the international front, the Venezuelan president stated that Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and Argentina President Javier Milei represent “the spearheads of the new colonialism and fascism in Latin America.”

Maduro criticized Ecuador’s president for expressing his willingness “to do whatever the United States wants,” calling him “irresponsible.” He also cited the construction of military bases in Argentina, which would come under the control of the U.S. military’s Southern Command.

As for the United States, Maduro expressed his “absolute condemnation” of the recent assassination attempt on former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Maduro called on the US to “investigate the assassination attempt so that the truth can be revealed and those who direct and manipulate events can be unmasked.” He added: “Neither attacks, coups, persecution nor violence should prevail, but rather respect for life and peace.”

Maduro also addressed the war in Ukraine, expressing confidence that Russia will “put an end to fascism in Ukraine” and affirming that “sooner rather than later, peace will be achieved between Moscow and Kiev.”

Read more: Venezuela seizes weapons, arrests foreigners in CIA-led anti-state plot