Venezuela FM says adjusting to 'US pole' in Europe weakening bloc

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Sep 2023 08:12
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The Venezuelan Foreign Minister says the EU must choose its own path rather than allow the US to choose for it.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters, New York (AP)

In an interview for Sputnik on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil voiced concerns about a political faction within the EU, which he stipulated is weakening the bloc because of constant alignment with the interests of the United States.

"If Europe continues to lean toward the plans of the United States, then we will observe an increasingly weakened Europe. Europe has an alternative, it must choose its own destiny. I hope it does that, and if it does, … it will become another power in a multipolar world, an important political pole. Unfortunately, according to the signs that we see, there is a political force inside Europe that prefers to be adjusted to the US's pole," the Foreign Minister told Sputnik.

Calling Europe "a very important pole" itself, the Venezuelan top diplomat urged the bloc to "politically win back its space as a world power."

'Pointless sanctions must be lifted'

On the issue of sanctions, Gil said Venezuela has discussed the unconditional lifting of unilateral sanctions against the country with "all members of the international system," including the United States.

"Sanctions are pointless and must be lifted. Venezuela is prepared to hold and hold negotiations with all members of the international system, including the US, demanding full and unconditional lifting of sanctions," Gil said.

The Foreign Minister revealed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tasked a team, led by parliament speaker Jorge Rodriguez, with negotiating specifically with the US and US-supported opposition.

"While the negotiations run their natural course, Venezuela keeps faith that Washington will return to reason and will lift sanctions immediately," Gil said.

Venezuela has held a range of "positive" bilateral and multilateral meetings at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, taking place in New York from September 18-26, he affirmed.

"We have deployed our Bolivarian peace diplomacy. The meetings were very positive and we have found an atmosphere of support for the [Venezuelan] government, primarily with regard to the issue of lifting unilateral coercive measures and sanctions against our country," the top Venezuelan diplomat added.

On his part, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, Venezuelan Chancellor Carlos Faría called for an end to the persecutional and economic sanctions against Nicaragua, 'sister' Cuba, Iran, and Russia - derived from a letter sent by President Nicolas Maduro.

Faría referenced the matter of more than 913 sanctions against his country, which he labeled as "illegal impositions" and crimes against humanity, emphasizing that the hefty bundle of sanctions impedes Venezuela's ability to develop and nurture its necessities, alongside collective and individual freedom and enjoyment.

'Coercive' use of US dollar to end soon

As for the issue of the US dollar whose effect is dwindling according to experts, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister said it is often used as a coercion weapon on a state level, but it will be over soon enough, as other options for international trade will emerge.

This comes as the bloc's leaders adopted a declaration, at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in late August, that calls for using local currencies in mutual trade and the "strengthening of correspondent banking networks between the BRICS countries and enabling settlement in local currencies."

"Establishing a new world order will certainly contribute to the dollar no longer being the only currency in international trade. We can already see how day after day products like energy carriers are increasingly often being traded in currencies other than the dollar," Gil told Sputnik.

He said large Latin American food exporters like Argentina and Brazil are also starting to use non-dollar currencies more often.

"I think that soon enough we will see other options in international trade, and the dollar's hegemony will dwindle, which is something we all want. Because the dollar today is being used as a coercion weapon against countries, this balance, this emerging currency basket, will be very good for global trade exactly because it would provide stability to all our countries," the top Venezuelan diplomat said.

Meanwhile, he expressed Venezuela's hopes to become a member of the BRICS bloc soon, as it sees support for its application from all member states, including Russia.

"We took part in the BRICS summit in Johannesburg and we are very happy to be [the bloc's] partner. We, along with 22 other countries, have applied for membership. We welcome BRICS's expansion, which it has or will have starting in January when the presidency will be transferred to Russia. Venezuela is determined to become an official member of the bloc soon. Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa support us decisively, all countries support our candidacy. We have no problems with that and are working on it," Gil said.

He said Venezuela was already working in all BRICS commissions and exchanging information with the members.

European, Asian, US firms Interested in Venezuelan energy sector

According to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, many European, Asian, and American companies have shown interest in cooperation with Venezuela in different sectors, including energy, adding that the Latin American country is on its way to becoming the fourth-largest gas reserve soon.

"We have discovered the interest of many companies - European, Asian, and American - in participation in different Venezuelan sectors, including energy," Gil told Sputnik on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Foreign Minister pointed to a recent gas investments initiative called Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which was agreed by the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States at their summit in July.

"We should recall that Venezuela is the world's largest oil reserve, and very soon we will become the fourth-biggest gas reserve globally. In other words, there are many opportunities, our oil industry is steadily growing. And we really have a lot of interest from different companies," Gil said.

Venezuelan-Russian high-level intergovernmental commission to convene soon

Venezuela and Russia will soon hold a meeting of the high-level intergovernmental commission and discuss military-technical cooperation, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil told Sputnik.

"All plans with Russia are discussed within the framework of a high-level intergovernmental commission, which will soon hold its meeting, including the issue of military-technical cooperation is also on the agenda," Gil said.

He also said the commission has a dedicated sub-commission discussing specifically the possibility of opening a Kalashnikov plant in Venezuela.