CARACAS — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has warned the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that the recent deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean Sea poses a direct threat to the stability of global energy markets.
The warning was delivered in a letter addressed to OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais on November 30.
In the communication, Maduro alleged that the military presence, which he claims includes over 14 U.S. warships and 15,000 troops, is part of a continuous “campaign of harassment and threats” waged by U.S. President Donald Trump against the Latin American nation since August.
Maduro argued that the substantial military buildup is creating a climate of tension that could disrupt regional security and, consequently, affect energy supplies worldwide.
He specifically denounced what he described as a U.S. attempt to seize Venezuela’s crude oil reserves, cautioning that any such action would pose a direct risk to the balance of the global market.
The Venezuelan president affirmed that his country would remain “firm” in defending its energy resources and would not submit to external pressure, citing historical instances where military interventions in oil-producing nations have led to instability and adverse consequences for both consumers and exporters. (Xinhua)