More than 60 political leaders from across Europe have issued an urgent warning against what they describe as a “prelude to invasion” of Venezuela, citing a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and escalating tensions with Caracas.
In a public letter released Friday and coordinated by the Progressive International, the signatories — including Independent UK MP Jeremy Corbyn, French MEP Manon Aubry, Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis, former Spanish minister Irene Montero and others — said the deployment of U.S. carrier groups, bombers, fighter aircraft and thousands of troops poses a grave threat to Venezuelan sovereignty.
The letter points to reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is moving toward the Caribbean and that U.S. B-52 bombers have flown missions near Venezuelan airspace. The authors also cite recent U.S. strikes on small boats that reportedly killed dozens of people as evidence that the situation has already turned deadly.
Drawing on declassified records, the signatories compare the current moment to past U.S.-backed interventions in Latin America, referencing regime-change operations in Chile in 1973, Brazil in 1964 and Guatemala in 1954. They argue that Washington’s current rhetoric around “narcoterrorism” echoes earlier justifications used in the U.S. “War on Drugs,” which they say contributed to decades of violence across the region.
“If the U.S. launches a military intervention in Venezuela, it would mark the first interstate war by the United States in South America,” the letter states.
The leaders call on progressive parties and lawmakers across Europe to oppose what they describe as a dangerous escalation and to stand in defence of Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“Our demand is clear and our resolve is firm: No war on Venezuela,” the signatories wrote.
