Venezuela's government has launched a scathing attack on the United States, accusing the Trump administration of using fabricated "narco-terrorism" allegations as justification for regime change against President Nicolás Maduro.
Escalating Tensions and Military Buildup
The diplomatic crisis reached new heights on Monday when the US State Department designated a Venezuelan group called the "Cartel of the Suns" as a terrorist organisation. This move comes despite widespread scepticism about the cartel's actual existence among international observers.
This designation represents the latest development in a four-month pressure campaign from Washington, officially aimed at combating South American drug traffickers. However, many analysts suspect this serves as a pretext to overthrow Maduro, whom Trump previously attempted to remove from power during his first term.
The situation has escalated dramatically since August, with President Trump ordering a substantial naval deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and authorising deadly airstrikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea.
European Warnings and International Concerns
Prominent left-wing European politicians have issued stark warnings about the potential consequences of US military action. In an open letter, signatories including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Greece's ex-finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, and Labour MP Richard Burgon expressed grave concerns about "the imminent threat of US military intervention in Venezuela".
The European leaders cautioned that "if the US launches a military intervention in Venezuela, it would mark the first interstate war by the United States in South America". They emphasised that past US military operations in Latin America linked to the "war on drugs" had "delivered not security but a torrent of bloodshed, dispossession, and destabilisation".
International concern has grown so substantial that European governments including France and the Netherlands have reportedly joined the UK in restricting intelligence sharing with Washington, according to AFP reports from Sunday.
Travel Disruption and Military Speculation
The escalating tensions have already caused significant disruption to international travel. At least six major airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to Caracas following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration about "heightened military activity in or around Venezuela".
Affected carriers include Portugal's TAP, Spain's Iberia, Colombia's Avianca, Brazil's Gol, Latam and Turkish Airlines. Venezuelan carriers and Panama's Copa Airlines continue to operate services.
Speculation about potential military action intensified in mid-November when the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, arrived in the Caribbean. Reuters reported on Saturday that four US officials indicated Washington was preparing to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days.
Two officials claimed options under consideration included attempts to overthrow Maduro, though the news agency stressed that President Trump had not yet made a final decision. Interestingly, last week Trump signalled willingness to negotiate with Maduro, suggesting he expected talks "in a not too distant future".
Venezuela's government remains defiant, describing the US allegations as "a despicable lie" designed to justify "an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela in the classic US regime-change format". Officials in Caracas maintain the Cartel of the Suns is "nonexistent" and have dismissed American claims as "slander".
