MSJ condemns US military buildup in southern Caribbean

The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent US military buildup in the southern Caribbean, describing it as a threat to regional peace and stability.

In a statement issued today, the MSJ said its executive committee held a meeting on Wednesday and mandated the party to release a statement rejecting the US presence, which it says is being portrayed under the pretext of combating narcotics trafficking.

“The Caribbean must remain a Zone of Peace,” the statement read, asserting that US military assets – including destroyers, guided missile cruisers, amphibious vessels, marines, and nuclear submarines – are inherently offensive and could be used to target another country.

The party contrasted these assets with the US Coast Guard, which it notes is primarily involved in law enforcement operations, not military offensives.

The MSJ accused the US of pursuing a policy of imperial hegemony, citing the Monroe Doctrine and historical instances where US national security interests were used to justify covert operations, including drug-related activities in Latin America and inner-city US communities.

The party labelled the current military deployment as a continuation of such policies, aimed at regime change in Venezuela, particularly in light of a US bounty on President Nicolas Maduro.

“This is military buildup is no different. It’s all a lie. The real intent is to effect regime change in Venezuela,” the statement said, adding that both the Trump administration and previous US administrations have demonstrated similar duplicity in foreign policy.

The MSJ extended its support to the government of Venezuela and its ruling PSUV party, urging all peace-loving Caribbean citizens to speak out. The party called on Caricom and its member states, as well as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), to publicly oppose any US military intervention in the region.

“We call on Caricom governments that have SOFA and other agreements with the US not to allow themselves to be used as a staging point against Venezuela,” the statement said, warning that interference with commercial vessels trading with Venezuela could have far-reaching consequences.