Argentina’s government announced on Thursday that it had filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Venezuela, accusing it of the “forced disappearance” of an Argentine gendarmerie officer, Nahuel Gallo.
Gallo was detained in Venezuela last month after crossing from Colombia to visit family. While Argentina has demanded his immediate release, Venezuelan authorities claim he is being held legally and is under investigation for alleged links to a group planning destabilising and “terrorist” actions.
“He is not disappeared,” Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab told Reuters. “He is detained and being processed before the relevant court.”
The complaint has deepened the strained relations between the two South American nations, which have been fraught since Argentina’s far-right libertarian president, Javier Milei, took office in late 2023. Relations further soured following Venezuela’s contested presidential election in July, where incumbent socialist President Nicolás Maduro secured victory amid allegations of irregularities.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed Argentina’s move as a “pitiful spectacle” in a Telegram post, underscoring the diplomatic rift.
Argentina’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to securing Gallo’s release, stating it would pursue “all legal and diplomatic resources” to protect his rights. The complaint to the ICC represents Argentina’s latest effort to escalate the issue on the international stage.
The case remains a flashpoint in the already fragile relations between Buenos Aires and Caracas, with broader implications for regional diplomacy in South America.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
