Detention comes amid tensions over Venezuela’s disputed election, with US seizing President Maduro’s aircraft this week.
Venezuelan authorities have detained a United States Navy sailor who was travelling within the Latin American nation, in response to Pentagon officers.
White Home nationwide safety spokesperson, John Kirby, confirmed on Wednesday that “a US service member” had been detained. He stated that Washington was attempting to get extra info from Venezuelan authorities.
“We’re clearly in contact as acceptable, as you’ll be, with Venezuelan authorities to attempt to get extra data,” Kirby stated. He added it was his “understanding that this particular person was on some type of private journey and never official authorities enterprise”.
Two defence officers additionally advised the Reuters information company the sailor had travelled to Venezuela on private depart and had not gotten the required authorisation. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity and declined to supply additional particulars.
A spokesman for the US Division of State additionally stated it was intently monitoring the state of affairs.
The detention comes as tensions over Venezuela’s disputed elections have soared, with a number of international locations, together with the US, rejecting President Nicolas Maduro’s claims of victory.
A number of international locations, together with the US and Argentina, have gone as far as to recognise Maduro’s opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, because the winner of the July presidential race.
On Monday, US authorities seized a aircraft allegedly bought for Maduro’s private use, citing a violation of sanctions imposed by Washington. Maduro’s authorities decried the seizure as “piracy”.
Hours later, Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez, accusing him of conspiracy and different crimes. The US joined a number of different international locations within the Americas in condemning the transfer.
A number of energetic US navy members have been detained whereas overseas lately.
Earlier this yr, 34-year-old US Military soldier Gordon Black was arrested after travelling to Russia to go to his girlfriend. Russian authorities sentenced Black in June to a few years and 9 months in jail after his girlfriend accused him of stealing from her. He stays an energetic responsibility member of the military however has been positioned on a non-pay standing.
Final yr, Military Non-public Travis King fled to North Korea throughout a civilian tour of the Army Demarcation Line on the border with South Korea. King, who was already dealing with navy disciplinary actions, was detained by North Korean authorities and later launched to the US.
His lawyer stated final week he would plead responsible to 5 fees, together with desertion.
The US has additionally just lately traded prisoners with Venezuela.
In December, US authorities freed a detailed ally of Maduro’s, Alex Saab, in trade for the discharge of 10 imprisoned US residents in addition to a fugitive defence contractor on the centre of a large Pentagon bribery scandal.
