Link to Article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/4/us-sailor-detained-in-venezuela-while-travelling-on-personal-business
“Detention comes amid tensions over Venezuela’s disputed election, with the US seizing President Maduro’s plane this week.”
The White House national security spokesperson, John Kirby, confirmed that a US service member had been detained in Venezuela on the 4th of September, 2024. It was Kirby’s understanding that he was on personal travel and not government business. Two defense officials told Reuters news that “the sailor had traveled to Venezuela on personal leave and had not gotten the required authorization.” The detention is thought to have come over tensions that sprung from Venezuela’s disputed elections. The United States rejected President Nicolas Maduro’s claims of victory. Another source of tension between the US and Venezuela arose when the US government seized a plane that President Maduro bought on Monday, September 2nd, which the US government said was a violation of sanctions. This seizure was decried by Maduro’s government as “piracy”.
In many foreign countries American citizens have been held captive. In the U.S, events similar to this instance, are lightly reported on. This course of events does seem to be inevitable as it is all in line with the uproar over the Venezuelan elections. Some have gone as far as to recognize the opposing candidate as the president-elect of Venezuela. After the US and Peru dismissed the results of the election, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica followed in their steps.
This event relates back to what we’ve learned in class as it shows how important global actors are on the stage of international politics. The United States, being a powerhouse on the world stage, has influenced and empowered many other countries in South America to reject Maduro’s claim of victory in the election. This event gives light to how influential the powerhouse countries are to others around them.
This detention is likely going to result in a prisoner exchange, similar to negotiations between the U.S. and other foreign countries in recent times. In December, the U.S. freed an ally of President Nicolas Maduro, Alex Saab, in exchange for 10 imprisoned US citizens. So I believe, seeing a theme in how the U.S. handles these situations, there will likely be a prisoner exchange. As for Venezuela, I believe that Maduro will hold this sailor until he receives “compensation” or an offer he deems equal to the value of the prisoner. Currently this situation is being closely watched by the U.S. government.