Spain and part of the Latin American left—specifically, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay—have rejected the “external appropriation” of Venezuela’s natural or strategic resources, as well as any “interference” in the country’s future, following the US attack this Saturday.
“We express our concern regarding any attempt at governmental control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources,” the six countries stated this Sunday in a joint communiqué, reported by Europa Press, arguing that “it is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region.”
This statement comes after the US Army captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, during a military operation carried out early Saturday morning. US President Donald Trump has assured that he will “take charge” of the situation in Venezuela until an acceptable replacement is decided upon.
The Venezuelan government has denounced a series of US airstrikes against “Venezuelan territory and population in civilian and military locations” in the capital, Caracas, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, condemning it as a “very serious military aggression against Venezuelan territory and population.”
In response, the six signatory countries have condemned the US attack on Venezuela, asserting that it “contravenes fundamental principles of international law,” such as “the prohibition of the use and threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States,” in addition to constituting “an extremely dangerous precedent for regional peace and security” and putting the civilian population “at risk.” In this regard, they reiterated that the situation “must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means” through “dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.” They added: “We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans themselves, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity.”
They also emphasized the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a “zone of peace” built on “mutual respect, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and non-intervention,” and appealed for “regional unity, beyond political differences, in the face of any action that jeopardizes regional stability.”
“We urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Member States of the relevant multilateral mechanisms to use their good offices to contribute to de-escalating tensions and preserving regional peace,” they concluded.
