US sailor detained in Venezuela while travelling on personal business

US sailor detained while travelling on personal business

A US sailor has been detained in Venezuela while travelling on personal business, the US Navy has confirmed. The sailor, whose name has not been released, was detained on 17 May by Venezuelan authorities while travelling in the Caribbean.

The US Navy has confirmed that the sailor is being held by Venezuelan authorities but has declined to provide further details due to privacy and legal considerations.

US sailor detained in Venezuela: US State Department:

The US State Department has also confirmed the detention of the sailor and says it is providing consular assistance.

US sailor detained in Venezula: Background:

Venezuela has been in a political and economic crisis for several years, and US-Venezuelan relations have been strained.

In 2019, the US government recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela, while the Venezuelan government led by Nicolas Maduro has been accused of human rights abuses and election rigging.

US sailor detained in Venezuela: What's next:

The US State Department is expected to continue to provide consular assistance to the detained sailor and to work with Venezuelan authorities to secure the sailor's release.