US Targets Venezuela’s Maduro, Cartel in UN Statement

Post by : Saif

The United States has told the United Nations that it will use sanctions to the fullest extent to cut off resources for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the drug cartel known as Cartel de Los Soles. This announcement comes amid growing tensions in Latin America, with Russia and China warning against U.S. actions.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, described transnational criminal and terrorist groups, including the Cartel de Los Soles, as the “most serious threat” to the Western Hemisphere. He said that Maduro’s government relies on sanctioned oil tankers as a major source of income, which also supports the cartel’s drug operations.

The U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean and Latin America, including a blockade of vessels under U.S. sanctions. In recent weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude and is tracking a third vessel approaching the country. These moves aim to cut off funding for Maduro and the cartel, which Washington calls a foreign terrorist organization.

Venezuela has strongly rejected the U.S. accusations, calling the designation of the cartel “ridiculous” and insisting the threat comes from the U.S. government, not Venezuela. Venezuelan officials, supported by Russia and China, criticized U.S. actions and requested a Security Council meeting to address the escalating tensions.

Russia warned that the U.S. approach could set a “template for future acts of force against Latin American states.” China urged the U.S. to halt its actions immediately and avoid further escalation. Venezuela’s UN ambassador, Samuel Moncada, called the U.S. justification “absurd” because there is no declared war in the Caribbean.

The situation highlights rising geopolitical tensions in the region. The U.S. sees its actions as necessary to prevent drug trafficking and to limit Maduro’s control, while Venezuela, Russia, and China view them as aggressive interventions.

This standoff at the United Nations demonstrates the challenge of balancing security concerns with international diplomacy. It also underscores the increasing focus of the U.S. on Latin America, particularly regarding Venezuela’s economic and political situation. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether sanctions and military measures can effectively weaken Maduro and the cartel without escalating a broader conflict.

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