Ottawa must oppose Trump’s aggressions in the Caribbean

The Communist Party of Canada joins with the peoples of the world who are horrified by and condemn Donald Trump’s provocations in the Caribbean. 

The actions have quickly moved from deployment of US naval forces to the coast of Venezuela, to several murderous military attacks against marine vessels under the false pretext of “fighting narcoterrorism,” to Trump’s public authorization of CIA covert operations in Venezuela including the capture or murder of President Nicolás Maduro. Washington has also expanded the scope of its provocation to include Colombia whose president, Gustavo Petro, Trump has now sanctioned for alleged drug trafficking.

This dangerous escalation of US military interference follows years of economic sanctions against the people of Venezuela. The goal of this campaign is to destabilize the country and gain further control over Venezuela’s rich energy reserves. Washington’s broader objective is to weaken and eliminate progressive and patriotic movements and governments throughout the Latin America-Caribbean region and, ultimately, socialist Cuba. 

Trump’s actions have brought condemnation from countries around the world, particularly in the Global South and especially in Latin America. 

However, the Canadian government has remained silent on the escalation and the dangers it represents. In fact, the Department of National Defence stated weeks after the US began airstrikes against “drug boats” that it will still continue its operation with the US Coast Guard to capture drug smugglers in the Caribbean. That program, called Operation CARIBBE, engages the Canadian navy and air force in stopping suspected drug boats and taking any detainees to the US for prosecution.

Ottawa’s actions are nothing short of endorsement and support for Trump’s attempts to justify forced regime change in Venezuela, through military provocation and extra-judicial executions. By supporting the US actions in the Caribbean, Canada is engaging in lawless behaviour in violation of international treaties governing the rights of all states to sail in international waters without restraint (specifically, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).  

The Canadian government must reverse its position on Washington’s aggression against Venezuela and other countries in the region. This instance is another example among many of the need for an independent Canadian foreign policy based on peace, disarmament, respect for sovereignty and international cooperation.

Ottawa must withdraw all Canadian military from Operation CARIBBE and any other military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and call for respect for sovereignty and international law.

The Communist Party stands in unwavering solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and the entire region, who alone have the right to freely identify the course of their own development.

Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada