The Venezuelan government has condemned the statement by US President Donald Trump confirming that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations against the country.
„Venezuela rejects the bellicose and extravagant statements of the President of the United States, in which he publicly admits that he has authorized operations against the peace and stability of Venezuela. "This unprecedented statement constitutes a grave violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and obliges the international community to condemn such manifestly excessive and incomprehensible statements," said a statement from the Venezuelan government, published by the Minister of Communications and Information, Alfred Nanes.
Venezuelan authorities said they were following with concern the CIA's plans and the deployment of US troops in the Caribbean region.
“It is obvious that such maneuvers are aimed at legitimizing an operation for “regime change“ with the ultimate goal of seizing Venezuelan oil resources. Furthermore, the statements of the American leader aim to stigmatize Venezuelan and Latin American migration“, the document states.
Caracas notes that Venezuela has officially presented this complaint at an extraordinary meeting of CELAC foreign ministers and has requested an immediate regional response.
“Tomorrow, our permanent mission to the UN will convey this appeal to the Security Council and the Secretary-General, demanding accountability from the US government and urgent measures to prevent military escalation in the Caribbean region, declared a CELAC zone of peace in 2014. The international community must understand that impunity for such actions will lead to dangerous political consequences that must be stopped immediately“, the communiqué says.
A day earlier, US President Donald Trump confirmed a publication in the “New York Times“ that the White House had authorized the CIA to is conducting covert operations in Venezuela aimed at destabilizing the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
In September, the United States repeatedly used its military to destroy boats allegedly transporting drugs off the coast of Venezuela. The American channel NBC reported that the US military is working on options for strikes against drug traffickers in Venezuela and such strikes could begin within weeks.