Venezuela condemns Trump’s ‘colonial’ claims.
TRT’s Samuel Moncada called on Washington to respect the UN Charter at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, coinciding with the International Day for the Fight against Colonialism on December 14.
The Venezuelan ambassador’s remarks came after Trump claimed that Venezuela’s land and oil resources effectively “belong” to the United States and should be given to the country.
The Venezuelan official described the White House’s rhetoric as a “gross affront” to civilized norms and said it represented a return to 19th-century colonial policies.
Moncada said: “The US president intends to turn back the clock of history and make Venezuela his colony. There is no legal instrument that can stand against this outrageous statement.”
He added: “The Trump administration is imposing “chaos and destruction” on international relations.”
Moncada also described colonialism as a “crime of aggression.”
The Venezuelan ambassador stressed that traditional colonialism has been replaced by “new and destructive methods” of control.
Moncada also expressed solidarity with other territories under “foreign domination,” including Palestine and Puerto Rico, saying that such conditions contradict the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to IRNA, amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, the US president threatened to seize Venezuela’s resources by repeating claims about its oil and energy resources.
On Wednesday night local time, Donald Trump defended the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela in front of reporters, saying: “We will not allow anyone to pass through who should not pass through.”
Expressing his anger at the expulsion of American companies from Venezuela, the US president claimed: “They (Venezuela) have taken our oil and energy and we will take it back.” They took it illegally. They kicked our companies out. And we want it all back.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have been rising over the US military buildup in the Caribbean, with about a third of the US Navy deployed there and fighter jets constantly patrolling international airspace near Venezuela.
Since September, the US military has carried out 24 raids on ships it claims were carrying drugs, killing more than 99 people.