Diaz-Canel, Maduro condemn US military buildup as threat to Venezuela

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites + Agencies
Today 09:26

Cuban president has condemned US measures against Venezuela as a breach of international law, while Nicolas Maduro has warned that the deployment of warships poses a direct threat to regional stability.

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, right, receives Cuba's President Miguel Diaz Canel at the start of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) Summit, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP)

At the XIII Extraordinary Summit of ALBA-TCP Heads of State and Government, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel delivered a forceful denunciation of the Trump administration’s latest measures targeting Venezuela.

Diaz-Canel began by condemning Washington’s actions as a clear breach of international law, accusing the administration of defying the UN Charter and ignoring regional agreements opposing coercion and foreign intervention.

“The imperialism in its demonic offensive shows no intention of respecting the limits imposed by International Law,” he said, warning that such policies threaten global peace and stability.

Military deployment criticized as a pretext

The Cuban leader challenged Washington’s justification for deploying up to 4,000 troops in the Caribbean, ostensibly to curb drug trafficking. He described it as a cover for potential military action against Venezuela.

“This movement could facilitate actions under the US law, specifically Title 50 of the United States Code concerning war and national defense, granting the president the ability to conduct military or clandestine operations without prior notification to Congress,” Diaz-Canel explained.

Calling the rationale hypocritical, he added, “The world’s most narcotic state, the United States, promotes this false and disproportionate narrative.”

Diaz-Canel urged nations to stand against what he called an irrational escalation, reaffirming Cuba’s commitment to solidarity and resistance.

“We join Nicolas, ALBA-TCP, and all peoples of the world in condemning this Trump administration aggression,” he declared, dismissing US accusations linking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to criminal organizations as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.

Historical legacy of unity

Referencing revolutionary figures Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, Diaz-Canel underscored the enduring legacy of regional solidarity and resistance to imperialism.

“Fidel’s multifaceted contribution to history and efforts toward the integration and unity of our region is immeasurable,” he said, linking past struggles to the present fight for sovereignty and self-determination.

Concluding his speech, Diaz-Canel called for vigilance, unity, and determination in defending Latin American sovereignty.

“The peace and coexistence we aspire to must not blind us to the dangers. We owe it to our history and future generations to confront the empire that seeks to subjugate us with unwavering conviction and unity,” he said.

US military buildup in Caribbean endangers regional peace

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also condemned the US military deployment in the Caribbean, calling it a direct threat to regional peace and a grave violation of international law.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry joined the criticism, warning of serious consequences for global security and urging the UN to intervene.

Last week, CNN reported that the United States has started deploying 4,000 troops, primarily Marines, in Latin American and Caribbean waters, claiming the operation is aimed at combating drug cartels.

The surveillance mission involves a nuclear submarine, P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, multiple destroyers, and a missile-equipped warship.

Meanwhile, months earlier, a letter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had surfaced, expanding the interpretation of the US military's traditional mandate to encompass additional missions.

Hegseth stated that the military's role involves protecting the homeland, a duty that extends to "sealing the borders, repelling all forms of invasion, including mass immigration, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other criminal activities."

However, in 2014, the leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) adopted a declaration designating the region as a "Zone of Peace," affirming their commitment to maintaining peace and cooperation in the area.