Venezuela seeks int'l solidarity as US military presence sparks alarm

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + News websites
Today 08:42

Venezuela warns of a growing US military threat and urges global action, as President Maduro rallies Latin American support for national defense.

Listen

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela Yvan Gil Pinto addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)

Venezuela has appealed to the United Nations for international solidarity against what it described as a looming “military threat” from the United States, which has deployed warships and carried out lethal strikes in the Caribbean under the banner of counter-narcotics operations.

“As they can't accuse Venezuela of having weapons of mass destruction or nuclear weapons, they're making up vulgar and perverse lies that no one believes, neither in the United States nor around the world, to justify an atrocious, extravagant, and immoral multi-billion-dollar military threat,” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto told the UN General Assembly in New York.

US President Donald Trump recently ordered eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region. At least three alleged drug-trafficking vessels have been destroyed by US forces in recent weeks, leaving more than a dozen dead. UN experts condemned the operations as “extrajudicial executions".

Gil Pinto accused Washington of fabricating narratives to justify meddling and warned that such actions risk destabilizing the wider region. “Venezuela will not yield to pressure or threats. We remain firm in defending our sovereignty and our right to live in peace, free from foreign interference,” he stressed.

The United States has rejected repeated overtures for dialogue from President Nicolas Maduro. Instead, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Venezuelan leader as a “fugitive from justice,” pointing to US drug-trafficking indictments against him. The charges form part of Washington’s broader strategy of sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Gil Pinto praised the struggle of the Palestinian people and called for an end to the Israeli occupation. He also reaffirmed solidarity with Iran in the face of Israeli-American aggression, stressing his country’s rejection of any attacks against it.

Regional military solidarity

Back in Caracas, Maduro used the 20th anniversary of the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) to highlight what he described as growing support from Latin American militaries.

The president revealed that he had received letters of solidarity from armed forces across South America, affirming that “if they touch Venezuela, they touch us all.” He warned that any aggression against the country would trigger a wider response: “If an aggression materializes, then it will be time to refound the United Liberation Army.”

Maduro praised the CEOFANB as the backbone of Venezuela’s national defense and recalled its creation under Hugo Chavez’s “strategic vision". He also announced that a Decree of External Commotion, allowing extraordinary measures in the event of a military attack, was prepared as a constitutional safeguard.

“The integral defense of the nation is the co-responsibility of all society, of all institutions, of all the people,” Maduro said, stressing that Venezuela’s civic-military unity remains central to protecting sovereignty.

The anniversary commemoration, steeped in references to Chavez’s legacy, underscored the government’s narrative of resistance to “imperialist aggression” and its efforts to frame Venezuela’s defense as a continental cause.

US weighs drone strikes inside Venezuela in alleged anti-drug campaign

Meanwhile, NBC News reported, citing four people familiar with the matter, that the Trump administration is preparing options for military strikes against alleged drug trafficking targets inside Venezuela, with plans under discussion that could see drone operations launched within weeks.

Two US officials and two others briefed on the deliberations told NBC News that the proposals include targeting what they perceive as cartel leaders, operatives, and drug laboratories within Venezuelan territory. While no final decision has been made, officials say Trump has signaled he is open to escalating action if Nicolas Maduro’s government is judged to be failing to curb narcotics flows.

Striking inside Venezuela would mark a major escalation in Washington’s campaign, which has already seen US forces destroy several boats in the Caribbean under the pretext that they are involved in narcotics operations, with no proof of such claims provided. This has prompted UN experts to call the attacks, which involved civilian killings, “extrajudicial executions". Critics inside the administration allege the strikes so far have not weakened Maduro’s grip on power, prompting debate over next steps.

Asked about the possibility of strikes, the White House referred back to Trump’s earlier remarks: “We’ll see what happens. Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable.” The Pentagon declined to comment.

While administration officials claim that the primary focus is on combating narcotics, some acknowledge that regime change remains a broader strategic goal. According to sources, the strategy includes applying enough military pressure to push Maduro into rash decisions that could destabilize his rule, without requiring US ground troops.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been one of the strongest advocates of a harder line, while special envoy Ric Grenell has continued to argue for keeping diplomatic channels open.

“President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,” a senior administration official said as quoted by NBC News.