Venezuelan forces surround Argentine embassy in Caracas after opposition refuge

On Friday, Venezuelan security forces surrounded the Argentine embassy in Caracas after two opposition members sought refuge inside. This incident follows the earlier refuge of four other Venezuelan opposition figures within the embassy this year. Pedro Urruchurtu, an international coordinator for opposition leader María Corina Machado, reported on social media that armed officials were patrolling the area, while former deputy Omar González noted that electricity to the embassy had been cut off. The situation has been described as a 'siege' by the Vente Venezuela movement, which holds President Nicolás Maduro accountable for the actions against the opposition leaders. The Argentine government has made requests for the safe passage of these individuals out of Venezuela, but these requests have not yet been fulfilled. The tensions escalated after Argentina's foreign ministry requested the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Maduro and other officials for alleged crimes against humanity during post-election protests. This request came shortly after Argentina's government questioned the legitimacy of the July 28 elections, which resulted in Maduro's controversial victory. In a related development, Argentinian President Javier Milei labeled Maduro a 'criminal' during a forum in Buenos Aires. The situation at the embassy highlights the ongoing political strife in Venezuela and the international community's response to the actions of Maduro's government, particularly in light of the recent expulsion of Argentine diplomatic personnel from Venezuela.