Argentina orders arrest of Venezuelan dictator Maduro

A federal court in Argentina ordered the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro for acts of political repression.

Argentina’s new libertarian president, Javier Milei, is a fierce critic of socialism and Maduro’s leftist dictatorship in particular.

The Argentinian court ordered “the arrest warrants for Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello be executed immediately, and that their international arrest should be ordered via Interpol for the purposes of extradition to the Argentine Republic,” the AP reported.

Argentina orders arrest

The federal court accused Maduro of systematically persecuting his opposition, including through kidnappings, forced disappearances and murder.

The order – which was filed under international law – came hours after Venezuela’s Supreme Court called for Milei’s arrest over the seizure of a Venezuelan cargo plane that was sent to the U.S.

Venezuela accused Argentina of stealing the aircraft, which was sold by Iran to Venezuela. The U.S. said the plane’s sale ran afoul of sanctions on both countries.

The standoff underscores a political divide between Maduro, a socialist dictator who has faced international censure, and Milei, a fiery right-wing populist who has prioritized cutting government bloat since assuming the presidency in December.

International crisis

Milei refused to recognize Maduro’s re-election in July, which was widely condemned as an undemocratic farce.

The July election led Venezuela to sever diplomatic ties with seven countries in the region including Argentina. Maduro’s regime has laid siege to Argentina’s embassy in Caracas, where opposition figures have taken shelter.

At one point, Maduro’s security forces cut off electricity to the embassy, alleging a plot by dissidents to assassinate Maduro. Argentina’s government responded, saying, “Any attempt to interfere or kidnap asylum seekers staying in our official residence will be harshly condemned by the international community.”

“Actions such as these reinforce the belief that fundamental human rights are not respected in Maduro’s Venezuela,” the statement added.

The United States seized Maduro’s plane in the Dominican Republic this month and flew it to Florida, citing sanctions violations. The Justice Department said the plane was bought through a shell company and “smuggled” out of the U.S.

Maduro condemned the seizure as an act of “piracy.”

“Once again, the authorities of the United States of America are engaged in a criminal practice that cannot be described as anything other than piracy,” Maduro said in response.

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