The US has released an ally of Venezuela's president in a swap for jailed Americans, the AP learns
apnews.com
The Biden administration has released a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a swap for jailed Americans.
  • bamboo@lemm.eeEnglish
    14·
    11 months ago

    The US government arresting foreign nationals like this ultimately endangers Americans who travel abroad. Other governments at odds with the US have to arrest US citizens to use as bargaining chips to get their own people back in prisoner swaps like this. It ruins lives and could be avoided if the US didn’t go around trying to play world policeman.

      • bamboo@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        No, but also don’t go around arresting people for political reasons to be used as bargaining chips. The circumstances surrounding his arrest are suspicious, with an interpol notice not being issued until the day after, for financial crimes. The US then fought for his extradition, against concerns from the UN’s human rights committee, and then ultimately dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence, but kept him in prison. Finally, he’s been released in a prisoner swap because he’s not a threat to anyone, just a political bargaining chip for the US to play against Venezuela when the time is right.