The presence of a nuclear-powered submarine is a violation of Latin America’s denuclearized status.
Venezuela has officially condemned what it describes as an escalation of hostile actions by the United States due to the deployment of the USS Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser, and the USS Newport News, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, in the Caribbean, reports 24brussels.
The Venezuelan permanent mission to the United Nations characterized this deployment as a severe threat to regional peace and security. In a letter to U.N. member states, Venezuela highlighted the violations of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which establishes Latin America and the Caribbean as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.
The letter details an increase in U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, specifically noting that the USS Newport News is expected to arrive off Venezuela’s coast early next week. Venezuelan representatives express strong disapproval of this military escalation, claiming it defies commitments to disarmament and undermines regional stability.
In its communication, Venezuela emphasized that the introduction of a nuclear submarine contradicts both regional disarmament efforts and U.N. principles regarding the peaceful resolution of disputes. It reiterates that the nuclear-free status established under the Treaty of Tlatelolco, ratified by the U.S. in 1971, obliges it to respect the denuclearized nature of the region.
Furthermore, Venezuela’s letter reminds that the presence of the submarine compromises trust in the regional disarmament framework and violates the commitments made in the 2014 Proclamation that declared Latin America and the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace.”
Venezuela, as a responsible member of the international community and as a state party to crucial disarmament treaties, called for immediate action to mitigate threats in the region. In this context, Venezuela demands:
- The immediate cessation of military deployments, including the USS Newport News, in the Caribbean.
- Clear guarantees from the United States that it will not deploy or threaten to use nuclear weapons in the region.
- OPANAL to convene urgent consultations to address these recent actions.
- Support from all U.N. member states to respect the denuclearized character of the region and uphold the CELAC Proclamation.
The Venezuelan mission remains resolute in its commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons, making it clear that the current situation poses a direct challenge to international disarmament efforts and the stability of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Source: VFM
