Mr Cabello said the arrested Spanish nationals were connected to the Spanish intelligence services and were detained in Puerto Ayacucho, south of the capital Caracas.

Spanish media reported that government sources denied the pair had links to Madrid’s intelligence services.

“Spain denies and categorically rejects any insinuation that it is involved in a political destabilisation operation in Venezuela,” a source was quoted as saying.

Madrid has requested more information from Venezuelan authorities over the arrests, and access to the detainees.

On Friday, Venezuela’s foreign minister summoned Spain’s ambassador in response to a Spanish minister’s description of the country as a “dictatorship”.

The Czech Republic has yet to respond to the claims.