Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay reject “unilateral military actions” in Venezuela

Eduardo González The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay have expressed their “rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally in Venezuelan territory,” which “constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population.” In a joint statement published this Sunday, January 4, one day after the overthrow and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States military on the orders of President Donald Trump, the six governments express their “deep concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally in Venezuelan territory.” These actions, the statement continues, “contravene fundamental principles of international law, in particular the prohibition of the use and threat of force, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” and constitute “an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population.” Likewise, the signatory countries reiterate that “the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.” “We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity,” they warn. “We reaffirm the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, built on mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-intervention, and we call for regional unity, beyond political differences, in the face of any action that jeopardizes regional stability,” the joint statement continues. The six governments also urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the member states of the relevant multilateral mechanisms “to use their good offices to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions and the preservation of regional peace.” “We express our concern regarding any attempt at government control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region,” the statement concludes, one day after Donald Trump announced that the United States will remain in Venezuela as long as necessary to “guide the country toward a safe and proper transition.” “The situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law,” wrote Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on social media. “The Government of Spain, along with the Governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Mexico, expresses in this statement our concern regarding the events that have taken place in Venezuela,” he added.

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