Maduro Calls for United Resistance to U.S. Military Presence in Caribbean

In a new chapter of growing geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean, Nicolás Maduro urged member nations of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) to engage in a "unified, popular, and prolonged resistance" against the military presence of the United States in the area.

This proposal was delivered during the 25th ALBA Summit, held virtually and broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión, marking 21 years since the founding of the regional alliance.

"Let's combine the united, popular, and prolonged resistance of ALBA's peoples with a permanent offensive to build solid foundations for a joint, common, cooperative economy that benefits all," the Venezuelan leader declared.

Simultaneously, Maduro condemned the U.S. military operations aimed at combating drug trafficking, labeling them as a direct threat to regional stability and an attempt to force a regime change in Caracas.

Maduro claims there have been "25 weeks of aggression, psychological terrorism, and military threats" from Washington.

In his view, this situation demands the enhancement of a national defense system inspired by historical figures of indigenous and Latin American liberation resistance such as Guaicaipuro and Simón Bolívar. "They seek a new colonial project, but they shall not pass; we will be free," he insisted.

The president also described the recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by the United States near Venezuelan territorial waters as an act of "pirate assault and kidnapping." According to Maduro, this action signifies a "total breakdown of legal and diplomatic coexistence in the hemisphere" and is part of a destabilization strategy that extends beyond local issues, becoming a "colonial project against not only America but the entire world."

The Context of U.S. Military Deployment

The U.S. government has increased its military presence in the Caribbean since mid-year, claiming it aims to curb drug trafficking. However, analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warn that this represents the largest U.S. air and naval deployment since the first Gulf War, which Caracas interprets as a clear "invasion threat."

Meanwhile, Venezuela has maintained a consistent military mobilization throughout its territory as part of its defensive strategy. Maduro accuses Washington of using the pretext of drug trafficking to launch a geopolitical offensive against opposing governments, particularly his own, which the U.S. does not recognize as legitimate and associates with the so-called "Cartel of the Suns."

Cuba's Firm Support for Venezuela and Rejection of "Hegemonism"

Through a videoconference, Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly supported Venezuela's denunciation and called for ALBA unity to "resolutely confront the hegemonic ambitions of the U.S. government." He condemned the "blatant, exaggerated, and unjustified" presence of U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean Sea, warning that the deliberate military threat "should alert all peoples and governments of the continent."

Díaz-Canel labeled the seizure of the Venezuelan oil tanker as "an act of piracy and theft of the Venezuelan people's resources, constituting a severe violation of international law."

He also accused the United States of lacking genuine interest in combating drug trafficking, using it instead as a pretext to expand its political control over Latin America and the Caribbean. "We are not anyone's backyard; we are sovereign countries. The Monroe Doctrine has come out of the closet," he declared.

Virtual Summit, Real Tensions

Unlike past face-to-face meetings, the 25th ALBA Summit was a digital event marked by a defensive and rhetorical tone. Logistical constraints resulting from the U.S. military deployment led the leaders to connect via videoconference.

Among them was Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, joined by his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo, who also criticized the West and the European Union for their support of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. "We see the EU beating the war drums, siding with Ukraine's Nazis against the Russian Federation," Ortega stated, in a speech filled with ideological references and aligned with Kremlin interests.

Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela remain the primary pillars of ALBA following Bolivia's recent departure, a significant loss marked by a political shift in that country and the preventive detention of former President Luis Arce.

As the summit concluded, the leaders demanded the "immediate end of the military threat" in the Caribbean and strongly condemned Washington's security strategies. The summit became a platform for relaunching the anti-imperialist narrative of the Caracas-Havana-Managua axis, blending historical resistance legacies with current allegations of foreign intervention.

Despite ALBA's institutional wear and growing international pressure, its members insist on their right to sovereignty and to resist any external intervention attempts. "Hasta la victoria siempre! Victory, victory, victory!" Maduro concluded, in a closing that sought to evoke the revolutionary rhetoric of past decades but unfolds in an increasingly adverse international scenario with fewer steadfast allies in the hemisphere.