Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto addressed the United Nations General Assembly, voicing strong condemnation of what he described as the “illegal and completely immoral military threat” posed by the United States against Venezuela. This statement comes amid reports that the US is planning to intensify military operations targeting the South American nation.
During his speech on Friday in New York, Pinto expressed gratitude for the support received from various governments and peoples who oppose what he termed an attempt to incite war in the Caribbean and South America. He emphasized that the threats from the US are not merely military posturing but are aimed at facilitating the exploitation of Venezuela’s vast oil and gas resources by external forces.
Pinto accused Washington of propagating “vulgar and perverse lies” to rationalize what he called an “atrocious, extravagant and immoral multibillion-dollar military threat.” His comments were made against the backdrop of a report from NBC News, which indicated that US military officials are devising plans to conduct airstrikes targeting drug traffickers within Venezuelan territory. These plans, according to two unnamed US sources, mark a significant escalation in the US’s approach towards Venezuela.
In a related development, US President Donald Trump recently announced that American forces had executed a third strike against a vessel allegedly involved in trafficking illicit drugs. These attacks have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 17 individuals. However, experts have raised serious questions about the legality of the US strikes on foreign vessels in international waters. Data from both the United Nations and US agencies suggest that Venezuela is not a significant source of cocaine entering the United States, contradicting Trump’s claims.
In his address to the UN General Assembly earlier this week, Trump warned drug traffickers directly, stating, “To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence.” This aggressive rhetoric starkly contrasts with Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s call for a legal process against Trump for the attacks on vessels in the Caribbean, which he argued have resulted in the deaths of Venezuelans who have not been convicted of any crime.
The US has deployed eight warships in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, supported by F-35 fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico, all under the banner of an anti-drug operation. Meanwhile, the US government has rejected appeals for dialogue from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused of drug trafficking by the Trump administration—a claim Maduro vehemently denies.
Historically, Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez, were regular attendees at the annual UN gatherings. However, Maduro’s absence this year has been notable, particularly as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled him a fugitive from justice due to a US indictment on drug trafficking charges.
Back in Venezuela, Maduro has called for military drills to commence on Saturday, aimed at preparing the populace for potential natural disasters or armed conflict amid the escalating threats from the US.
The impact of these military tensions is palpable among Venezuelan fishermen, who have expressed growing concerns over US military actions affecting their livelihoods. Joan Diaz, a fisherman from the northern town of Caraballeda, voiced his distress to the AFP news agency, stating, “It’s very upsetting because our country is peaceful, our fishermen are peaceful.” He lamented the intimidation tactics employed by the US, which have forced many fishers to remain close to shore for fear of encountering US forces.
Luis Garcia, a leader among approximately 4,000 fishermen in the La Guaira region, described the US military presence as a “real threat.” He remarked on the stark disparity between their small fishing boats and the heavily armed US vessels, exclaiming, “Imagine the madness. The madness, my God!” Garcia emphasized the communication protocols established among local fishers to ensure safety during their operations, but he also made it clear that they refuse to be intimidated.
In a direct message to Trump, Garcia stated, “We, the fishermen of Venezuela … will continue to carry out our fishing activities. We will continue to go out to the Caribbean Sea that belongs to us.” The resolve of these fishermen underscores the broader implications of the US’s military strategy in the region, as tensions continue to rise between the two nations.
