Venezuela: "US Attack Exposes the Imperialist Character of its Policy"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Yván Gil, stated this Saturday that the recent military aggression perpetrated by the United States against Venezuelan territory, along with the abduction of the constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro, and the first combatant, Cilia Flores, has exposed the true face of imperialism.

In statements provided to the multiplatform teleSUR, the chancellor asserted that those responsible for these acts constitute "the authentic aggressors and war criminals" and demanded proof that the Venezuelan leader and the first combatant are alive.

Gil indicated that the attack, which he described as vile and criminal, has as its central objective the seizure of Venezuela's strategic natural resources, alleging that the US operated with a "false flag" to justify its criminal actions within Venezuelan territory.

In that sense, he emphasized that the country remains firm in the defense of its sovereignty and the peace promoted by President Maduro, while reaffirming the Government's determination, in coordination with the Venezuelan people, to confront any attempt at external subjugation.

The chancellor insisted that there is no other motivation behind the offensive besides interest in the country's resources. "We know that behind this attack there is no other reason, no other motive than the intention to appropriate natural wealth," he expressed.

Likewise, he lamented that the attack occurred just hours after President Maduro issued, this past January 1st, a message in favor of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.

"We are for peace, we are for democracy, but we are also firm in defending our nation, and the aggressors already know where they stand," affirmed Gil.

For several weeks, Venezuela had been denouncing before different international forums an escalation of illegal actions by the United States, which included veiled threats, intimidating military movements, and covert operations aimed at destabilizing the country.

Venezuelan authorities warned repeatedly that these maneuvers violate international law and the United Nations Charter, while alerting about the risk of a direct aggression.

In this context, the Government maintains that the attack confirms prior denunciations and demonstrates that the pressure strategy against Venezuela has escalated into an open criminal action, which during Saturday night claimed more victims.