CARACAS – Venezuelan President Nicolรกs Maduro’s government has cautioned Colombia and otherโ nations in the Greaterโฃ Caribbean region of potentially “tragic consequences” should the united States proceed withโข military action against Venezuela,โข following reportsโ that the U.S. has identified potential targets within โขthe country. The warning came during a meeting in โคCaracas convenedโ byโฃ Maduro to โฃaddress escalating regional tensions, โฃfueledโ by a perceived increase in U.S. military presence and the possibility of strikes authorized โby a future Trump โadministration.
The gathering underscored growing anxietiesโ within Venezuela โand among its allies regarding potentialโข U.S.โฃ intervention. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvรกn Gil characterized the โขU.S. military activity as an โ”extravagant military presence” and warned that any “irresponsible”โ military action by the Trump โAdministration would be “the first cause of destabilizationโข in the Greater Caribbean.” The Maduro government โalleges the U.S. actions are partโ of a covert plan toโ instigate regime change and gain control of Venezuela’s natural resources,โข notably โits โคoil reserves.
Delegations fromโข countries allied with Caracas, including Nicaragua, voiced similar criticisms. โNicaraguanโฃ Foreign Minister โขDenis moncada asserted thatโ the โ”war on โขdrugs” serves asโข a “geopolitical strategy toโ justify intervention, the deployment of troops, the systematic โviolation of sovereignty and the blatant theft ofโข natural resources.” The โขUnited Nations has also condemned U.S. operations as a violation โฃof international law, further alleging “extrajudicial executions”โ of individuals aboardโ vessels involved in the operations.
The situation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical competition in Latin America and the potential for renewed โฃU.S.โค pressure onโข Venezuela should Donald trump โขwin โฃthe 2024 presidential election. Theโ identified targets for potential U.S. strikes reportedly includeโข Venezuelanโ military โขinstallations, raising theโฃ stakes for regional stability.
