Tensions Rise Between El Salvador and Venezuela Over Prisoner Swap Proposal

El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, criticized Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro for rejecting a proposed prisoner swap involving Venezuelan deportees. Maduro demanded the release of Venezuelans held in a Salvadoran prison, while Bukele’s proposal included numerous political prisoners. This tension underscores their longstanding animosity rooted in differing political ideologies.

On Tuesday, the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, condemned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for rejecting his proposed prisoner swap. The suggested exchange aimed to transfer Venezuelan deportees from the United States currently held in El Salvador for what Bukele termed “political prisoners” in Venezuela.

Maduro, in a recent address, criticized Bukele, asserting that the Salvadoran leader is a “serial violator of the right to freedom, fair treatment, and human dignity.” He further demanded the release of 250 Venezuelans incarcerated in a Salvadoran mega-prison, urging Bukele to sign a decree for their unconditional freedom instead of engaging in a swap.

In response, Bukele challenged Maduro on the platform X, questioning whether the Venezuelan leader had not previously declared he would do “whatever it takes” to secure the release of the detained citizens. This exchange highlights the deeply entrenched animosity existing between the two leaders, stemming from their opposing political ideologies.

Bukele’s proposed list of individuals for release includes the son-in-law of former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González and various political figures currently seeking asylum in the Argentine Embassy in Venezuela. Also cited was the mother of opposition leader María Corina Machado, who reportedly remains surrounded by Venezuelan police.

In retaliation to the proposal, the Venezuelan government demanded a comprehensive list of Venezuelan detainees in El Salvador, along with health information. Bukele reiterated his stance via social media, referencing a recent prisoner swap between Venezuela and the Biden administration for a Maduro ally, questioning Maduro’s earlier declarations about the detained Venezuelans in El Salvador.

The exchange of critical remarks between Presidents Bukele and Maduro reflects the ongoing tensions between El Salvador and Venezuela. Bukele’s proposed prisoner swap was met with a firm rejection from Maduro, highlighting the fundamental ideological disparities between the two leaders. This situation continues to develop amid broader regional concerns regarding democratic practices and human rights.

Original Source: apnews.com