In a new escalation of international opposition to US policies in Latin America, independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council have strongly criticized the US naval blockade of Venezuela. The experts described these actions as amounting to "unlawful armed aggression," warning of their serious repercussions for international law and regional stability.
A flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter
In their official statement, experts affirmed that the US actions, which have included deploying a large fleet in the Caribbean since last August, lack any basis in international law. They pointed out that intercepting the sanctioned vessels and oil tankers constitutes "a prohibited use of military force against a sovereign state," directly contravening Article 2 of the UN Charter. The statement added that this conduct explicitly qualifies as armed aggression according to the 1974 UN General Assembly definition, thus granting Venezuela, in principle, the right to legitimate self-defense.
Context of the "maximum pressure" strategy
To understand the dimensions of this event, it must be viewed within the broader context of strained relations between Washington and Caracas. This blockade is part of the "maximum pressure" campaign adopted by the administration of President Donald Trump, aimed at crippling the Venezuelan economy to force President Nicolás Maduro to step down. This strategy began with a series of harsh economic sanctions targeting the oil, gold, and financial sectors, and has now evolved into a de facto naval blockade intended to prevent Venezuelan oil exports or imports of fuel and essential goods.
American pretexts and drug charges
The United States justifies its military actions in the Caribbean as counter-narcotics operations, directly accusing Venezuelan officials, including President Maduro, of belonging to what it calls the "Cartel of the Suns." Washington claims this organization engages in "narco-terrorism." However, many international experts question the existence of a formal structure called the "Cartel of the Suns," suggesting that it is more akin to a network of disparate corruption networks that tolerate illicit activities rather than a centralized terrorist organization.
Expected humanitarian and geopolitical repercussions
This blockade has serious repercussions that go beyond the political dimension:
- On the humanitarian front: The blockade exacerbates the suffering of the Venezuelan people, who are already reeling from a devastating economic crisis. Preventing the arrival of oil and fuel tankers is paralyzing the transportation, electricity, and agricultural sectors, threatening the food and health security of millions of citizens.
- On the international level: Observers believe that this American behavior sets a dangerous precedent in international relations, where military force is used to impose unilateral sanctions without a UN mandate, which could lead to wider geopolitical tensions, especially with Venezuela having international allies such as Russia and China who oppose these policies.
