Venezuela Appeals to UN for Support Against US “Threat”

On Friday, Venezuela called for international solidarity at the United Nations in response to what it described as the “threat” posed by the United States, which has recently conducted deadly strikes against vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.

In a speech to the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto criticised the US: “As they cannot accuse Venezuela of possessing weapons of mass destruction or nuclear arms, they are fabricating vulgar and perverse lies that no one believes — neither in the United States nor worldwide — to justify an atrocious, extravagant and immoral multi-billion-dollar military threat.”

Pinto added: “We would like to thank the governments and peoples of the world, including those within the United States, for denouncing this attempt to wage war.”

US President Donald Trump has deployed eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean, citing the operation as part of a campaign to combat drug trafficking.

In recent weeks, US forces have destroyed at least three suspected drug boats, resulting in the deaths of over a dozen individuals. The action has been condemned by UN experts as “extrajudicial execution.”

The United States has rejected calls for dialogue from President Nicolas Maduro, a leftist leader whose government is not recognised by the US, following widespread allegations of irregularities during his last election.

Maduro, along with his late predecessor Hugo Chavez, had previously been regular attendees at the annual week of leaders’ meetings at the UN. However, Maduro did not attend this year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Maduro as a fugitive from justice, referring to a US indictment alleging drug trafficking.

Table: Recent Developments in US–Venezuela Tensions