(L-R) Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Yvan Gil, Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister (photo by Everton Barnes)
Venezuela is reaching out to its Caribbean allies within the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) in response to what it describes as a growing threat of U.S. military intervention in the region.
The call for support comes after the United States increased its military presence in the Southern Caribbean.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, accompanied by Vice Minister for the Caribbean Raul Li Causi, held meetings on Thursday with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. John’s.
“On behalf of President Nicolás Maduro, we had the honour of visiting Antigua and Barbuda, where we held a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Gastón Browne,” Minister Gil reported.
“During our discussions, we examined the current geopolitical situation in the region and the threats that jeopardize the peace and security of our peoples. We particularly highlighted violations of our status as a Zone of Peace, as proclaimed by CELAC in 2014, as well as the 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco, which designates the region as a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. We also reviewed bilateral initiatives and regional projects, including Agro-ALBA, aimed at strengthening agricultural cooperation among our countries.”
Antigua and Barbuda is a member of ALBA, the regional bloc of Caribbean and Latin American countries formed to foster social, economic, and political cooperation.
What does the government say “Friend of all enemy of none” I see a hands off approach. This is a very tricky position to be in right now.leta not pick sides but rather call for a peaceful resolution
ALBA was built to protect small nations from this kind of pressure. Antigua is right to keep ties strong.
As long as these talks bring more investment into agriculture and jobs, that’s what matters most.
Every time Venezuela feels pressure, they run to ALBA. How long will this strategy work?