In a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) this Tuesday (22), the head of the American Executive, Donald Trump, publicly admitted that he practices spoliation, that is, the theft, of Venezuelan oil. After celebrating the military operation and “the arrest” of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3 of this year, the President of the United States stated that Washington, with the combination of American and Venezuelan reserves, represents more than 60% of the world’s oil.
“We are working with Venezuela’s leaders to build a better future for the local population. Last month, we signed the largest oil agreement in history, involving 65 billion barrels of oil, which will benefit the United States and reduce the cost of energy around the world. The largest oil companies in the world are entering the project in incredible numbers”, declared the Republican leader in front of the Venezuelan delegation, led by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.
“Adding the United States and Venezuela, we hold more than 60% of the world’s oil reserves. This is perhaps the biggest agreement ever made and the winner belongs to the spoils”, he added, going on to challenge any country that “threatens” the interests of the United States.
“Our actions in Venezuela prove that the United States will not allow threats to have support bases in the Western Hemisphere. If necessary, we will use our incomparable military strength to preserve the vital interests of the United States”, said Trump, who, during several parts of the speech, highlighted the supposed inability of Latin American countries to react to US military aggression.
“Venezuela had one of the strongest military structures in the neighborhood, but that didn’t work,” he highlighted. “We are reaffirming American and military power in our region and the world to create a safer future”, added the American tycoon.
Fighting ‘narcoterrorism’: the perfect excuse
“For decades, previous governments allowed the region to be dominated by bloodthirsty gangs and cartels, which destabilized the area and promoted the infiltration of hostile adversaries into the United States, but this no longer happens,” declared Donald Trump in relation to Latin America.
“Upon taking office, I designated the drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and launched an armed operation to eliminate them. The cartels are the cancer of the Western Hemisphere, enemies at war with civilization who use murder, rape and torture as instruments of terror. Like the Islamic State, they must be killed, exiled or imprisoned as enemy combatants with no possibility of release. To that end, the United States has carried out dozens of attacks against cartel vessels, reducing entry by 97 percent of drugs by sea and ocean”, said Trump, therefore mentioning the US bombing of civilian vessels, which have reported more than 150 deaths, without any proof of link to drug trafficking.
The head of the US Executive referred to the supposed elimination of the so-called “Trem de Aragua”, which he identified as “the main gang in Venezuela”, and said that “Mexico is now the epicenter of this action”. “It is intolerable for the United States to have borders dominated by enemy cartels. Mexico needs to regain control of its territory from the hands of the enemies of humanity,” he declared.
Trump then began to refer to Cuba, a country over which the United States has maintained an economic blockade for more than 60 years, intensified in recent months by the naval siege of Cuban trade. The American confessed that he works for a “regime change” on the island.
“Our government is also working for radical change in Cuba, where the communist regime is facing unprecedented pressure. It is an absolutely failed state that will fall. Marco Rubio is deeply involved in negotiations with the Cubans, and we will not allow a safe haven from terrorism on our doorstep”, he highlighted.
“The Cuban regime spent decades coordinating actions with communist networks in the United States, cultivating links with the Communist Party of the United States, Antifa and the Democratic Socialists of America. Communism will never enter the United States, but freedom will come to Cuba, just as security will come to Mexico,” said Trump, then pondering that he has a “great relationship with the Mexican government.”
Lula on Venezuela
Before Trump’s speech, it was Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)’s turn to take the stand at the UN General Assembly. In his intervention, the president of Brazil indirectly criticized the foreign policy of the United States and mentioned interference in Venezuela.
“The division of the world into zones of influence and neocolonial attacks for strategic resources constitute anachronistic gestures. The Venezuelan people deserve to define their own destiny”, declared Lula.
The Brazilian leader also stated that the region once again “witnessed external interference in electoral processes” and argued that diplomacy is the only way to resolve regional disputes.
“Diplomacy is the only option. Initiatives such as the Group of Friends of Peace, created by Brazil and China, reveal that there are forces in the international community willing to work for dialogue”, stated the president. “In Latin America and the Caribbean, geographic proximity to the greatest military power in the world is inescapable. Especially in a context of increasing hegemonic temptations”, he added, therefore rejecting the role of subservience to the interests of any power.
“Brazil does not fit in anyone’s backyard. We need partners with a positive agenda, which encourages development. Ideological differences should not be obstacles to greater integration between neighbors”, said the Brazilian president.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
