Mr. President:
Just eight days ago, Cuba denounced in this body the dangerous escalation of aggression by the government of the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This constitute a flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly of Article 2, which concerns the sovereign equality of States, the prohibition of the threat or use of force, non-intervention in internal affairs, and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. In addition, this aggression violates numerous United Nations General Assembly resolutions, including Resolution 2625 (XXV), which establishes the principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States; Resolution 3314 (XXIX), which defines a blockade of a State’s ports or coasts by another state’s armed forces as an act of aggression; Resolution 2131(XX) on the inadmissibility of intervention in the domestic affairs of States and the protection of their independence and sovereignty; Resolutions 79/144 y 80/110, which address the safety and security of maritime transport and freedom of navigation; and relevant international Maritime Organization resolutions.
This also violates numerous UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism and Security Council resolutions on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
In less than a month, the U.S. armed forces have committed three acts of piracy and maritime terrorism against oil tankers and their crews in the Caribbean Sea, in addition to declaring a naval blockade against Venezuela.
The irresponsible actions of the U.S. government seem to know no bounds. The US imposes the application of the law outside its territory and far from its coasts, where it has no jurisdiction, using assault and the appropriation of property.
This is part of the U.S. government's growing efforts to prevent Venezuela from freely using and trading its natural resources with other nations, including hydrocarbon supplies for Cuba.
These actions negatively impact Cuba and intensify US policy of maximum pressure and economic suffocation, causing a direct impact on the national energy system and, consequently, on the daily lives of our people.
We reiterate that the U.S. government seriously disrespects and violates international law, the regime established by the Law of the Sea, the freedom of navigation and trade, and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.
As if that were not enough, the United States arbitrarily, fraudulently, and unilaterally designated the legitimate government of Venezuela as a foreign terrorist organization for political reasons. This further confirms the lack of credibility of these decisions and the manipulation of terrorism as a political weapon. What moral authority does the U.S. government have to make these designations when it protects and finances terrorist organizations within its borders, refuses to cooperate with neighboring countries, such as Cuba, on terrorism, and openly discusses covert CIA actions and sabotage against Venezuelan infrastructure? The US government is only seeking to isolate the Bolivarian and Chavez’s Revolution internationally; increase pressure, and escalate aggression, which could have unpredictable consequences for peace, security, and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean; and broaden the meager support for their illegal attacks.
It is hypocritical for a country with the world's largest drug market —from which this criminal business is financed— to promote a war supposedly to combat this scourge in Latin America and the Caribbean. Clearly, its purpose is to justify the costly and extraordinary military deployment in the region, which it intends to use to attack Venezuela and impose its hegemonic domination in the hemisphere.
We alert the international community to these provocations, which aim to escalate aggression against Venezuela and seize its natural resources. In accordance with Article 51 of the Charter, Venezuela and any other state under attack have the right to self-defense.
These actions are in addition to the U.S. government's unilateral coercive measures, economic suffocation, smear campaigns, and attacks against important Venezuelan institutions, which are part of its psychological warfare and increased pressure to overthrow the Venezuelan government.
Mr. President:
The new U.S. National Security Strategy, which includes the so-called Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, seeks to enforces the idea that the Western Hemisphere is its exclusive zone of influence, validates the dangerous doctrine of peace through force, and enshrines cognitive warfare as state policy. This reflects the enormous challenges facing humanity, particularly the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The current U.S. government and its projection toward the region violate the precepts of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
The era of the Big Stick and gunboat diplomacy, marked by criminal aggressions and abuses against peoples, belongs to our region's past. We cannot allow this to be our future. We reiterate our call to the international community to stop the escalation against a sovereign state.
The ostentatious unjustified, and exaggerated deployment of U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean Sea, coupled with the deliberate threat of military aggression against the Bolivarian nation, will have unpredictable consequences for the region's political, social, and economic stability. This reveals hegemonic and criminal intent, which requires universal condemnation.
Mr. President:
We reject the European Union's extension of unilateral sanctions and coercive measures against Venezuela. These measures are contrary to international law and the Charter of the United Nations, seek to increase pressure on the Venezuelan government, and align with aggressive, neocolonialist U.S. interests.
Cuba reaffirms its total and unwavering support for constitutional President Nicolás Maduro, the Bolivarian and Chavez’s Revolution, and its Civic-Military Union. We demand that Venezuela's sovereignty, independence, and right to freely decide its destiny be respected without any external interference.
Attempts to subjugate Latin America and the Caribbean under hegemonic pretensions are nothing new. We are convinced that this will not be the last time the peoples of the region will be able to determine their own future and advocate for their legitimate right to live in peace.
Thank you