BOGOTA, Colombia — An Argentine officer has been charged with terrorism in Venezuela, as announced by the country’s attorney general on Friday. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has alleged that the officer, Nahuel Gallo, was involved with a group aiming to execute destabilizing and terrorist activities in Venezuela, allegedly supported by international far-right factions.
During a press briefing, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich dismissed the accusations as “another lie” from the Venezuelan government and called for Gallo’s immediate return to Argentina. The situation has intensified the existing tensions between Venezuela’s socialist administration and the right-leaning government of Argentine President Javier Milei. Notably, the Argentine embassy in Caracas is currently sheltering five prominent opposition activists, who are surrounded by Venezuelan security personnel.
Gallo, a corporal with Argentina’s Gendarmería, was apprehended by Venezuelan authorities on December 8 after he visited an immigration office near the Colombia-Venezuela border to seek entry into the country. His family explained that he was in Venezuela to visit his wife, who is a local citizen spending time with her mother. They provided an invitation letter sent to Gallo and maintained that he was on vacation when he was detained.
The diplomatic relationship between Venezuela and Argentina deteriorated in August, following Milei’s refusal to acknowledge Nicolás Maduro’s reelection in July. As a result, Argentine diplomats were expelled from Venezuela, yet the five opposition activists sought refuge in the Argentine embassy to evade arrest, remain inside the residence as they have been denied safe exit from the country.
These activists have been residing in the embassy since March and have claimed that Venezuelan security forces have cut off electricity and water supplies in an effort to pressure them to vacate the building. Venezuelan officials have countered these claims, alleging that the activists are using the embassy as a base to orchestrate terrorist schemes.
Furthermore, the Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal reported earlier this week that there are currently 19 foreigners being held as political prisoners in Venezuela. In a related incident, two Spanish nationals who were on holiday in southern Venezuela were detained in September, accused of involvement in a conspiracy to dethrone President Maduro. This arrest occurred shortly after Spain’s parliament recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the legitimate election winner.
