On October 3, local time, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegerseth said the U.S. military hit a “drug trafficking ship” and killed four people in the operation.
Hegseth said that the operation took place in international waters, near the coast of Venezuela.
On the same day, the White House said President Trump had ordered the fight against Venezuela’s “drug trafficking vessels” to defend American interests.
Live footage. Source: CCTV News
In recent years, tensions between Venezuela and the United States have continued, with the United States deploying several warships in the Caribbean waters near Venezuela with the so-called "fight against Latin American drug trafficking groups", while Venezuela has conducted three-day military exercises on the northern island of Oshira to raise its military readiness towards the Caribbean waters.
On the evening of September 26, Maduro said that if national security is attacked by external military forces, the Venezuelan government is ready to take emergency response measures in accordance with the law.
Many countries condemn the US.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on October 3, strongly condemning the U.S. government's continued military threats against Venezuela and deliberately creating excuses to launch military aggression.
The statement said that the United States has recently amassed large-scale military forces in the South Caribbean, sent fighter jets to illegally invade the Venezuelan flight information region, and repeatedly attacked and destroyed civilian ships, causing casualties. In addition, the United States also announced that it would expand military operations to land. Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized these practices as an attempt to legalize and rationalize larger-scale military operations and violate the United Nations Charter and international law.
The statement also warned that direct military action against Venezuela would trigger an armed conflict with incalculable consequences and undermine peace, security and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Finally, Cuba reiterated its support for the Venezuelan government and people, and called on the international community to jointly prevent relevant US military actions to maintain peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Colombian President Pedro
On the same day, Colombian President Petro issued a document condemning the U.S. military for attacking civilians in the waters near Venezuela in the name of combating "drug trafficking ships", killing four people.
Petro said there were no drug terrorists on board, all poor youths in the Caribbean.The action violated the generally applicable proportionality legal principle and therefore constituted murder.
Petro also rejected U.S. concerns about his security policy, saying he hoped the U.S. government would not interfere in Colombia's internal affairs.
On the 3rd, Bolivia’s President Alzey also sent a letter condemning the hostile attitude of the United States towards Latin American countries.
Bolivian President Arce Data Map
In response to the Venezuelan government’s allegation that U.S. military aircraft have entered the airspace of the Commission and carried out military harassment, Alze said the move, as well as several U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, violated international law. Bolivia condemned the U.S. government’s hostile attitude toward Latin American countries and its disgraceful conduct in order to seize Venezuela’s oil resources.