Venezuela has accused Argentine officer Nahuel Gallo of terrorism, escalating tensions between the countries. The charge follows Gallo’s arrest while seeking entry to Venezuela to visit his Venezuelan wife. Argentine officials denounce the claims as false and demand his return, amidst controversy over opposition activists sheltering in the Argentine embassy.
The Venezuelan government has charged an Argentine military officer with terrorism, amidst escalating tensions between the two nations. According to Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab, Corporal Nahuel Gallo is accused of being associated with a group intent on destabilizing the country, allegedly receiving help from international far-right factions. Argentine officials, however, have dismissed these claims as false, calling for Gallo’s immediate return to Argentina.
Gallo was arrested earlier this month after seeking permission to enter Venezuela from an immigration office near the Colombian border. His family maintains that he traveled to visit his wife, who is Venezuelan, accentuating that he was on vacation. Relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly in August when Venezuela severed diplomatic ties with Argentina after the Argentine President Javier Milei and several regional leaders declined to recognize Nicolás Maduro’s reelection.
Currently, the Argentine embassy in Caracas houses five prominent opposition activists, who are surrounded by Venezuelan security forces. Reports suggest that the Venezuelan authorities have cut off utilities to the embassy as pressure tactics against the activists, who have reportedly been taking refuge there since March. Venezuelan officials assert that the activists utilized the embassy for planning terrorist actions. The ongoing situation encapsulates the broader political strife in Venezuela and the tense dynamics between the Maduro government and the opposition, exacerbated by foreign relations.
In addition, various human rights organizations report that numerous foreigners are being detained in Venezuela on political grounds, highlighting a pattern of repression against perceived adversaries of the Maduro regime. Recent detentions, including those of two Spanish nationals accused of plotting against Maduro shortly after Spain endorsed an opposition candidate, further illustrate this troubling trend in Venezuela’s political landscape.
The situation between Venezuela and Argentina has grown increasingly contentious, particularly following the controversial reelection of Nicolás Maduro. The relationship soured significantly when Argentina’s newly elected right-wing president, Javier Milei, along with other Latin American leaders, refused to acknowledge Maduro’s victory. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in August 2023, leading to the expulsion of Argentine diplomats and heightened tensions surrounding opposition members seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy in Caracas.
The charges of terrorism against Argentine Corporal Nahuel Gallo reflect the mounting tensions between Venezuela and Argentina amid declining diplomatic relations. Venezuela’s allegations are vehemently contested by Argentine officials, who demand Gallo’s immediate return. While the Venezuelan government attempts to portray these incidents as acts of destabilization, human rights organizations highlight the broader issue of political repression in the country, marking a serious challenge for international relations in the region.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
