【Text by Observers Network, Ruan Jiaqi】

The tense situation between the United States and Venezuela is rapidly escalating. According to IRNA on the 14th, José Rafael Silva Aponte, the Venezuelan ambassador to Iran, stated in an interview that the Trump administration of the United States is using "combating drug crime" as a pretext for military deterrence, actually aiming to overthrow the Venezuelan regime and ultimately seize the country's abundant oil resources.

With the U.S. military massing troops near Venezuela, the Caribbean Sea situation has become complicated and unpredictable. Regarding the rumors that "Caracas would cut relations with China, Russia, and Iran in exchange for the United States abandoning military action," Silva firmly denied it.

He clearly stated that Venezuela adheres to an independent foreign policy based on "Bolivarian" peaceful diplomacy, self-determination, and non-interference in internal affairs, "No foreign government has the right to dictate our policies, and our alliances with Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran are of strategic importance."

Sierra further stated that the strategic partnership between Venezuela and China, Russia, and Iran is based on mutual cooperation, respect for sovereignty, common development and progress, and is an important part of the process of forming a multipolar world.

Venezuelan Ambassador Sierra, IRNA

The ambassador pointed out directly that Washington is exerting unprecedented pressure on the Venezuelan government, with the core goal of controlling energy and natural resources from a geopolitical perspective, which is essentially the same as the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia and Iran.

He explained that Iran, Russia, and Venezuela play a vital role in stabilizing the global energy market due to their rich resources. The three countries have also reached a consensus on managing their own resources independently and orderly, committed to serving the people's vision of national resources, and rejecting any external interference.

This is the root cause of the United States' series of hostile actions designed for personal gain. However, such attempts will ultimately fail. Sierra pointed out that according to the OPEC report, global oil demand will increase by about 23% by 2050, and the Global South will play a key role in economic growth and energy demand. He quoted Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, emphasizing, "The United States cannot exclude us from the global energy market; our weight is significant."

The Venezuelan government warned that unilateral actions will negatively affect the energy supply chain and prices, "Therefore, we must defend multilateralism and build a new multipolar world, where relationships based on respect for international law, cooperation, and common development will dominate."

Silva added that, as President Maduro has repeatedly emphasized, Venezuela is always willing to dialogue with the United States, but on the condition of mutual respect: respecting the right of the Venezuelan people to choose a free and dignified life, and respecting their determination to defend their right to development in the face of blockades, unilateral coercive measures, and military threats.

"We do not accept any form of extortion and pressure," he emphasized, stating that imperialism cannot destroy the will of the Venezuelan people. Through its own efforts and strategic alliances based on respect and mutual benefit, the country has achieved continuous economic growth for 18 consecutive quarters.

Regarding the actions of the United States in the Latin American region, Silva pointed out that since 1823, the United States has never abandoned the Monroe Doctrine, naturally considering Latin America and the Caribbean as its sphere of influence.

"Now, the United States is strengthening its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and South America, which reflects its global hegemony decline, military and diplomatic setbacks in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, losses in the trade war with China, and moral collapse before the world for shielding Israel, which is accused of 'genocide'," he said. These changes mark the formation of a new balance of power in the modern world, and the United States is trying to regain its dominant position in a multi-centered, multipolar world by reclaiming its traditional spheres of influence.

Silva emphasized that organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have repeatedly expressed opposition to the escalation of military deployment in the region. Countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Cuba, and Nicaragua have clearly committed to maintaining regional peace. He hopes more multilateral institutions will take timely actions against the U.S. misconduct.

Since late August, the United States has deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers and 8 warships in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific under the pretext of immigration and drug trafficking issues, launching at least 19 strike operations, resulting in at least 76 suspected drug traffickers killed.

On the evening of November 11, the United States sent the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier "Gerald R. Ford" along with a carrier strike group into the Latin American and Caribbean regions, intensifying tensions with Venezuela.

Images released by Trump on social media showing U.S. military strikes on "drug ships"

These U.S. military actions have been widely criticized by the international community. On the 11th, CNN reported that British officials believe these attacks are "illegal" and do not want to be accomplices to U.S. military strikes, and had stopped sharing intelligence on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea with the U.S. over a month ago.

This decision marks a "significant rift" in the close relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., as well as their intelligence-sharing partner, highlighting the growing international skepticism about the legality of the U.S. military actions in the Latin American region.

As an ally that has cooperated with the U.S. for nearly two decades and once helped intercept suspected drug traffickers with the U.S. Coast Guard, Canada has also kept its distance from U.S. strike operations.

According to reports, Canada plans to continue participating in the U.S. Coast Guard's "Caribbean Operation" (Operation Caribbean) cooperation, but has clearly informed the U.S. that it does not want its intelligence to be used to assist in selecting lethal targets.

On the same day, Colombian President Petro also announced the suspension of intelligence cooperation with the U.S. in the region until the U.S. stops attacking ships in the Caribbean Sea.

At the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on the 12th, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot raised a protest against the U.S. military actions at the beginning of the meeting, calling them "a violation of international law" and expressing concerns about France's territorial security in the region.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas, also told the media after the meeting that the U.S. strike actions lacked legal basis and were only reasonable if they were in self-defense or authorized by the UN Security Council.

With "the world turning against it," the United States appears to be somewhat overwhelmed. After the meeting, Secretary of State Rubio insisted that he did not hear any objections during the meeting, while mocking Europeans for not being allowed to interfere in U.S. national security measures. He also sarcastically remarked, "They want us to send nuclear-capable Tomahawk cruise missiles to protect Europe, but oppose the U.S. deploying aircraft carriers in the Western Hemisphere."

He added, "Drugs not only flow into the U.S., but also enter Europe through Venezuela. Europeans might thank us."

On the afternoon of November 12, the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Niagara region, Ontario, Canada. IC Photo

Regarding reports that the UK had stopped sharing intelligence because it considered the U.S. actions "illegal," Rubio directly denied the claim, calling it "fake news" and emphasizing that the U.S.-U.K. partnership "is very strong."

"There has been no change, and nothing can stop our actions, and we have not asked any country for assistance," he stubbornly stated.

According to a report by The Washington Post on November 12, the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) of the U.S. Department of Justice had drafted a classified opinion earlier this year, stating that U.S. military personnel involved in these strike operations "enjoy criminal immunity" to ensure they will not be held accountable under international law.

Analysts point out that the OLC's move is intended to ease concerns about potential criminal liability for U.S. military forces, reminiscent of similar actions taken by the Bush administration. At that time, the office responded to legal concerns from senior military lawyers regarding the use of harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks.

Sarah Harrison, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group and former Pentagon lawyer, said that by defining the military operation as a "war," the Trump administration could argue that ordinary criminal law provisions such as murder charges do not apply.

"If the United States is in a state of war, then the first use of lethal force is legal," she further noted, adding that Trump is actually "manufacturing a war to circumvent the restrictions on the use of lethal force in peacetime, such as murder charges."

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