US Navy sailor detained in Venezuela, Pentagon says

A US Navy sailor was detained by Venezuelan authorities on Saturday, the Pentagon said, amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

The sailor was assigned to a US Navy EP-3 Aries surveillance plane that was conducting a routine mission in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea when it was intercepted by a Venezuelan SU-30 fighter jet, according to the Pentagon.

The Venezuelan fighter jet forced the EP-3 to land at an airport on the island of La Orchila, where the sailor was detained.

The Pentagon said it was working to secure the sailor's release.

The incident comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela have been rising in recent months.

In January, the US announced new sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA.

The sanctions have been widely criticized by the Venezuelan government, which has accused the US of trying to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

The US has denied these allegations, saying that it is only trying to help the Venezuelan people.

The detention of the US sailor is likely to further escalate tensions between the two countries.