Background on Nicolás Maduro and His Relevance
Nicolás Maduro, the current President of Venezuela, has been in office since 2013, succeeding the late Hugo Chávez. Maduro’s presidency has been marked by political turmoil, economic instability, and international disputes. His claims of U.S. aggression against Venezuela reflect the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Maduro’s Allegations Against the United States
Multi-faceted War:
On Tuesday, Maduro accused the United States of waging a “multi-faceted war” against Venezuela, claiming that the U.S. is violating international law. This statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that U.S. forces had destroyed three Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean.
Violation of International Law:
“Venezuela is being subjected, immorally, by violating all international law and all the norms established in the UN Charter,” Maduro stated during the presentation of the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace, as reported by Venezuelan news portal Globovisión.
Strategic Objective:
Maduro further alleged that there is a strategic objective to seize Venezuela’s natural resources through a political regime change. However, he assured that Venezuela would emerge “stronger, more peaceful, more democratic, and more united” from the current situation, as per Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
Historical Claims of Attacks:
Although not directly referring to the recent U.S. attacks on Venezuelan vessels, Maduro claimed that “Venezuela was targeted by Nazi submarine attacks in the Caribbean” and that “in the Zulia state, the attacks included sinking over 30 ships and direct assaults on petroleum refining facilities.”
U.S. Response and Controversy
Trump’s Claims:
Hours before Maduro’s statement, U.S. President Donald Trump pointed to a third attack against Venezuelan vessels by the U.S. military in the Caribbean, defending these actions as part of his anti-drug trafficking policy. Although the Pentagon has only confirmed two such attacks in recent weeks, Trump insisted he had “taken out three boats, not two.” He stated, “You’ve seen two, but there are three.”
Escalating Tensions:
These attacks have heightened tensions, even within the U.S., where some congress members argue that the U.S. is not facing a direct threat from Caracas and lacks legal grounds to bomb the vessels since they are not military targets, and the involved countries are not at war.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue between Venezuela and the U.S.? The central point of contention is the alleged U.S. aggression against Venezuela, with Maduro claiming a “multi-faceted war” and violation of international law.
- What has U.S. President Donald Trump stated regarding attacks on Venezuelan vessels? Trump asserted that U.S. forces had conducted a third attack against Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, defending these actions as part of his anti-drug trafficking policy.
- Why are there concerns about legality in the U.S. response? Some U.S. congress members argue that there is no direct threat from Venezuela and insufficient legal basis for bombing the vessels, as they are not military targets and the involved countries aren’t at war.
