Venezuela’s socialist government released a five-page statement on Tuesday, rejecting President Donald Trump’s intention to label Venezuela and several other nations as non-cooperative in the fight against drug trafficking.
According to the Venezuelan officials, the document highlights that countries like Colombia and Peru are primarily responsible for the drug trade in the area. They claim that the assertions in the U.S. statement are merely “imaginary and illegal self-direction,” contradicting findings from professional international organizations.
The U.S. Department of State had announced that President Trump recently designated Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela, arguing that these countries have “clearly failed” to meet commitments outlined in the international counter-narcotics agreement and the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act regarding drug trafficking efforts.
This decision references allegations against Nicolás Maduro, labeling him as a key figure in a cocaine trafficking network supposedly operated through the Venezuelan military. The U.S. is currently offering $50 million for information that could lead to Maduro’s capture or conviction.
The resolution emphasizes that Maduro leads one of the largest cocaine trafficking networks in the world, and the U.S. aims to hold him and other conspirators accountable for their actions. It also expresses intent to target foreign terrorist organizations in Venezuela, including Tren de Aragua.
The State Department’s decision came shortly after President Trump announced military actions targeting identified drug trafficking cartels. He detailed a strike that resulted in the deaths of three individuals involved in trafficking operations on the high seas.
This week’s military operations mark a continuation of efforts to address drug cartels in the Caribbean, aiming to reduce the flow of illegal substances into the U.S. Reports indicate that an earlier strike left 11 members of the Tren de Aragua terrorist group dead. Maduro has previously dismissed claims about these strikes, labeling some footage as manipulated.
During a press conference, Trump mentioned a third vessel that was attacked, urging Maduro to cease sending members of Tren de Aragua to the U.S.
The Venezuelan government responded furiously to the U.S. declaration. Foreign Minister Ivan Gil issued the five-page rebuttal publicly, strongly opposing the allegations and claiming they were unfounded and rejected by the broader Latin American community.
The Maduro administration insisted that the U.S. decision is fundamentally flawed and inconsistent with data from international organizations. They pointed to a United Nations report maintaining that Venezuela does not serve as a significant area for drug production.
“Our country does not have drug cartels or processing plants,” the statement asserted, citing U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency reports that apparently support this claim.
Furthermore, the Maduro administration argued that it has successfully intercepted a significant portion of drugs passing through its territory. They referenced a UNODC report noting that drug trafficking accounted for a small fraction of GDP in the U.S. and criticized American banks for laundering drug-related revenue.
Venezuela vehemently denied allegations of its involvement in drug trafficking, calling them “embarrassing lies.” The government characterized the ongoing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean as a cover for an “invasion” plot against Venezuela.
Over recent weeks, the Maduro administration has repeatedly characterized U.S. military actions as threats to its sovereignty, urging international authorities to halt such operations.
In August, the Maduro government formally requested U.S. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to cease ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean, branding military actions a “threat” to its regime.
