WILLEMSTAD — The Dutch government has confirmed that three Dutch citizens described by officials as political detainees have been released from custody in Venezuela and are expected to leave the country as soon as possible under diplomatic escort.
Caretaker Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said the three were freed overnight and have been placed under the supervision of the Dutch embassy in Caracas, which is assisting their departure. Van Weel also publicly thanked Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez for her cooperation in the process.
Dutch media reported that Van Weel personally contacted the Venezuelan authorities to press for the release, and said the three were the only Dutch nationals known to be held in the country.
The releases come amid a broader series of prisoner releases announced by Venezuela’s interim administration following the removal of former president Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by the United States earlier this month and transferred to the U.S., according to international reporting.
The development also unfolds against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic and security tension around Venezuela, with the United States tightening measures in the region while engaging with opposition figures, including a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.