Maduro says “Zionism, neo-fascism” has arrived

The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, said on Thursday (4) that the Head of State of Argentina, Javier Miley, represents “Zionism, neo-fascism.” The speech came in response to the Argentine's statements calling for the imposition of more sanctions on the Venezuelans.

In an interview with the channel CNNJavier Miley had said that he would lead efforts against Venezuela to increase sanctions against the country. He also described Maduro as a “dictator.” The President of Venezuela responded during the program Mature PodcastIt was recorded at Monumental Stadium in Caracas.

The Venezuelan asked how many countries would participate in drafting Miley, and said: “Look in the mirror of the world.” [Jair] Bolsonaro. Look in the mirror [Mauricio] Macri.” Both the former Brazilian president and the former Argentine president had a critical stance toward the Maduro government, withdrawing ambassadors from Caracas and maintaining a distant relationship with Venezuela.

Maduro also expressed his belief that former Argentine player Diego Armando Maradona was killed in an operation to “eliminate rebellious symbols in Argentina.”

Relations between Venezuela and Argentina have deteriorated since the Venezuelan state-owned Emtrasur plane was sent to the United States. The plane had been detained since June 2022 in Buenos Aires due to judicial cooperation between Argentina and the United States. About two months after Javier Miley took office, the United States confiscated the plane and sent it to Florida. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said the plane was “stolen.”

In response, the Venezuelan government closed airspace to Argentine aircraft until Venezuela could be “compensated” for the damage. This action led to further diplomatic tension between the two countries. The Argentine government said it would file a formal complaint with the United Nations. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil responded by calling the Argentine government “neo-Nazi” and “subservient to the interests” of the United States.

The two countries still have to negotiate another issue related to the Argentine embassy in Caracas. At the end of March, the Venezuelan Public Ministry issued arrest warrants against seven people on charges of planning to destabilize the electoral process. Six of them went to the Argentine embassy in the Venezuelan capital to avoid arrest. Buenos Aires and Caracas reached an agreement that these people would be able to leave the country.

Editing: Rodrigo Durao Coelho