The United States has escalated its travel warning for Venezuela to the highest possible level, urging all American citizens to leave the country immediately. This drastic move comes in the wake of confirmed large-scale military strikes by the US against the South American nation, which reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Highest Level Warning: What Does 'Level 4' Mean?
The US State Department issued a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' advisory for Venezuela, citing extreme and life-threatening risks. The advisory explicitly warns Americans of the dangers of "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure." The Trump administration stated that anyone with US citizenship or residency status, including those traveling on Venezuelan or other foreign passports, should depart Venezuela without delay.
In a grave assessment, the advisory noted that the US government has no means to contact its nationals if they are detained in Venezuela. It further stated that detainees are often denied access to family or independent legal counsel. Citing reports from independent human rights organizations and former detainees, the US alleged that prisoners have been subjected to torture and cruel treatment, including severe beatings, prolonged stress positions, and even waterboarding.
Explosions Rock Caracas: The Trigger for US Action
The travel advisory followed a night of chaos in Venezuela. Around 2 am local time on Saturday, residents of the capital, Caracas, were jolted awake by at least seven explosions accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft. Witnesses described the ground shaking, with people rushing into the streets in panic. One witness told the Associated Press, "The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance."
The Venezuelan government confirmed that the attacks targeted Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Reports indicated power outages in several neighbourhoods following the strikes. In response, the US Embassy in Bogota, which handles affairs for Venezuela, issued a security alert, warning US citizens not to travel and instructing those already in the country to shelter in place.
Maduro's Capture and the Narco-Trafficking Allegations
Following the military action, former US President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that the "US has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader." He claimed that Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country.
This dramatic development came just days after the US had doubled a reward for Maduro's arrest to $50 million. The US has long accused Maduro of being a leading international narco-trafficker, alleging he collaborated with Colombian guerilla groups and cartels to flood the US with cocaine laced with fentanyl. Federal prosecutors had previously charged him and other senior officials in 2020 for conspiring with the FARC to traffic drugs and weapons.
The bombings occurred even as Venezuela had expressed openness to negotiating a drug-trafficking agreement with the US just a day earlier. The US military has recently been targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region, setting the stage for this significant escalation.
The situation remains volatile, with the US government maintaining its sternest possible warning against any travel to Venezuela, marking a severe downturn in diplomatic and military relations between the two nations.
