Maduro Appeals to U.S. Public to Halt Military Deployment in Caribbean
Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro directly appealed to the citizens of the United States on Friday, urging them to oppose military intervention in the Caribbean Sea. He warned against “the mad hand of those who order bombing, killing and carrying out a war in South America, in the Caribbean,” and called for an end to escalating tensions.
Speaking at a gathering of jurists in Caracas convened to discuss the U.S. military presence in the region, Maduro stated, “It is to the people of the United States that I address this moment: stop the war, no to the war.” He expressed hope that U.S. citizens would “play a starring role” in preventing what he described as a potential tragedy for the entire continent. “Do we want another gaza now in South America?” he questioned, asserting, “Here peace will triumph.”
The President’s remarks follow the proclamation by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday of a military operation dubbed “Southern Spear,” framed by Washington as part of its efforts to combat drug trafficking originating in Latin America. Hegseth, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), indicated the operation would be led by a joint working group under the U.S. Southern Command, responsible for military operations throughout South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
While details of “Southern Spear” remain limited, it is widely understood to encompass the naval and air deployments initiated by the trump administration in the Caribbean Sea since August, ostensibly to counter drug trafficking near Venezuelan waters.
Maduro, without directly referencing the “Southern Spear” operation, affirmed Venezuela’s commitment to ”the fight for peace and sovereignty.” He announced plans to collaborate with international legal experts to develop a strategy for defending Venezuela’s right to peace and stability in South America through international legal channels.
