Green Party of New Jersey statement condemning the illegal military action against Venezuela and the kidnapping of the Venezuelan President and his wife.

After months of warnings and reporting from activists across the Americas, including the Caribbean, the United States has now invaded Venezuela. US aggression and war crimes, such as the extrajudicial killing of fishermen, placement of troops in occupied territories such as Puerto Rico, closure of Venezuelan airspace, and placement of international surveillance on the island of Tobago, have now escalated to last night’s invasion and bombing in multiple cities in Venezuela, including Caracas. 

The Green Party of New Jersey emphatically CONDEMNS this act of military aggression, in direct opposition to international law, including the United Nations charter, against the sovereign nation of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores de Maduro.

President Trump and his administration are but the latest in a long line of ruthless war criminals to engage in US imperialism.  The crimes against Venezuela have been conducted by both Democrats and Republicans and particularly against Hugo Chavez in 2002, in a failed coup attempt. This latest illegal intervention in a sovereign nation and kidnapping of its President is reprehensible. This will have lasting negative consequences on the safety and stability of the Americas as a whole.

“For example, the economies of many Caribbean island nations are particularly vulnerable. They rely on food imports from Venezuela due to the lack of local agricultural production. These actions have already caused widespread panic, with residents flocking to supermarkets. The Colombia-Venezuela border is now heavily militarized to manage the influx of Venezuelan migrants into Colombia. Residents of border towns are evacuating to safer areas within the country due to security concerns. Additionally, paramilitary groups are capitalizing on the chaos, raiding these towns. Grocery shopping has surged nationwide as Colombians prepare for a potential food crisis. There is growing fear among Colombians that political unrest might escalate, especially since President Gustavo Petro has been threatened by Trump once again, while Álvaro Uribe and his right-wing associates are stoking further instability.” – Lily Benavides, GPNJ Co-Chair

As United States residents, it is urgent that we educate ourselves on the realities of this situation as well as the ways we are complicit in imperialism. We must stand united and in solidarity with the international working-class struggle. 

The Green Party of New Jersey is clear on the reality of this latest criminal activity by the current US administration. Throughout its existence, the United States government and its military have exploited, extracted, and abused the Americas to advance its capitalist imperialist agenda that fails to even serve the needs of its own people. 

Be reminded also, just weeks ago, President Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was previously convicted of drug trafficking and had served only 3 years of a 45-year sentence. This alone confirms the falsity of the “drug cartel” narrative, which is being pushed by the current administration, in coordination with mainstream media. 

We understand the United States does not serve working-class people through these crimes. Instead, this government serves its true masters, the corporations such as Exxon Mobil, which have ravaged our planet and enriched a handful of billionaires while conditions continue to worsen for everyone else on Earth. Let us be clear. This is not about democracy. It is not about drugs. It is not about the Venezuelan people. It is not about US national security. This is about oil, and the audacity of the Venezuelan government to nationalize this resource, and to trade with the nations that are in conflict with the United States government. 

Unilaterally imposed sanctions against the Venezuelan people have been in place since Obama’s 2015 Executive Order. Since that time, the US government has perpetuated collective punishment upon the people of Venezuela in its continued effort to steal the oil from the land. It has further interfered with Venezuelan elections, with Trump assisting in the installation of Juan Guiado, a US-appointed puppet, in 2019. This decision was supported by Biden, who openly worked with Guiado until he fled Venezuela in 2023.  The kidnapping of President Maduro by the United States has nothing to do with the self-determination of the Venezuelan people. To assume it is would be a dangerous mistake that only empowers the oppressive power structure of the West.

The Green Party of New Jersey unequivocally stands with the people of Venezuela, and we demand:

• The immediate release and return of President Maduro and his wife to Venezuela.
• An end to this sham trial based upon false and unsupported “narco-terrorism” charges.
• An end to the sanctions and all military aggression being perpetrated upon the people of Venezuela.
• An immediate cessation of any and all attempts to interfere with the trade and commerce of any and all oil reserves within Venezuela.

The Green Party of New Jersey further calls upon:

• The United States government to immediately end the siege on the Caribbean islands. These nations must be allowed to resume travel and trade without US interference.
• The international community to unite in support of the sovereignty of Venezuela, and to condemn the illegal actions of the United States government.
• The people of the US to rise in opposition to this attempt to overthrow the elected officials of foreign nations in pursuit of their national resources.
• The government of the US to do its job as elected officials and stop the illegal actions of the Trump administration.
• The government of the US to move swiftly against any additional attempts to invade other nations, with specific consideration of recent statements indicating the possible escalation towards Colombia and Cuba.

Graphic: VoxUmmahMedia