#hostage-diplomacy

#hostage-diplomacy

BLITZER: Also happening now, a U.S. official tells CNN that Venezuelan security forces have detained at least five Americans in recent months. This comes as tensions between the two nations keep building and building. The official said the Trump administration believes the Maduro regime is detaining Americans to help build leverage against the United States. Here with me now in The Situation Room is CNN cybersecurity reporter Sean Lyngaas.

For over a thousand days, starting in December 2018, China's government held me hostage in an attempt to blackmail Canada into releasing Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese telecom executive arrested on American criminal charges.