Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of orchestrating a campaign against him, as the world’s largest warship makes its way towards the South American nation. In a bold move, Maduro is attempting to strip citizenship from a key political adversary, whom he accuses of encouraging foreign invasion.
On Saturday, President Maduro criticized the mounting pressure from the U.S. and initiated legal action to revoke the citizenship and invalidate the passport of opposition leader Leopoldo López.
López, a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition who has lived in exile in Spain since 2020, has openly supported the presence of U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean and endorsed strikes on suspected drug trafficking operations.
Venezuela’s Vice President announced that López’s passport would be revoked “immediately,” alleging that he is involved in advocating for an “economic blockade” and conspiring with foreign governments to incite violence against Venezuelans.
In response, López took to his social media platform, X, to dismiss the government’s actions, citing constitutional protections that prevent Venezuelans born in the country from losing their nationality.
He reiterated his support for U.S. military intervention and actions within Venezuela.
“Maduro wants to take away my nationality for saying what all Venezuelans think and want: freedom,” López wrote. “After having stolen the 2024 election, we agree to pursue all avenues to end the dictatorship,” the politician added.
López spent more than three years in a military prison after participating in anti-government protests in 2014.
He was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison on charges of “instigation and conspiracy to commit a crime.”
He was later granted house arrest and, after being released by a group of military personnel during a political crisis in Venezuela, left the country in 2020.
