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The US State Department said that there is a very high risk of wrongful detention of US nationals in Venezuela and hence warned its citizens against visiting the country.
US said any plans to visit Venezuela or remain in the country if they’re already there “due to the high risk of wrongful detention.
Amid rising row between US and Venezuela, the US State Department has issued a travel alerts warning its citizens against any travel to Caracus.
“The Department has determined there is a very high risk of wrongful detention of US nationals in Venezuela. Security forces have detained US citizens for up to five years without respect for due process,” the department said.
It further stated that any plans to visit Venezuela or remain in the country if they’re already there “due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.”
“All US citizens and lawful permanent residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately,” it added. “Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason.”
Previously, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro rejected what he called a “slave’s peace”, telling a massive rally in Caracas that the country would never submit to foreign pressure or domination. “We want peace, but peace with sovereignty, equality, freedom! We do not want a slave’s peace, nor the peace of colonies,” Maduro declared, dancing on stage as supporters waved flags.
Maduro, who accuses the US of attempting to topple him, said Venezuela would not bow to external dictates as the region braces for potential confrontation.
The United States has positioned the world’s largest aircraft carrier and additional warships in the region since September, a buildup Washington says is aimed at curbing drug trafficking. Caracas insists regime change is the true objective. The US has also designated an alleged drug cartel run by Maduro, the so-called “Cartel of the Suns”, as a terrorist organisation and announced a $50 million reward for his capture, a claim Venezuela and its allies dismiss as fabricated.
Trump had recently said that he recently spoke with Maduro for the first time since returning to office in January, describing it only as “a phone call.” Reports in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal said the two discussed a possible meeting and even potential amnesty terms if Maduro agreed to step down.
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December 04, 2025, 22:54 IST
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