Venezuelan MP to UWI: “We are facing the most dangerous threat in our 200-years-history”

The United States’ government is threatening the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 7 US warships including 4000 marines are currently facing the Venezuelan coast, and the US navy already attacked some fisher boats, which the Trump administration claimed were transporting illegal drugs.

We spoke about these threats and their purpose with Roy Daza, member of the Venezuelan National Assembly. Daza is in fact vice president of the Foreign Policy Committee of the parliament and works in the International Affairs Committee of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

The current topic: threats from the United States. Overall, how do you assess this? What is the US government’s objective?

At this moment, Venezuela is facing the most dangerous threat in its 200-year history as a republic. Never before has a military force of that magnitude been located off our territorial waters. In the face of this threat and in the face of the infamous accusations against our President Nicolás Maduro and against the country, we have categorically denounced and rejected the accusations.

Furthermore, we know that the objective of the United States government is what they call regime change; that is, what they are seeking is the overthrow of the Bolivarian government and the destruction of the republic. This has to do with two very important aspects.

First, everyone knows that the world’s largest oil reserves are in Venezuela. But it’s not just oil; it’s land, rare earths, gold, bauxite; everything God has created in the world is in Venezuela.

And on the other hand, because they don’t tolerate our democracy. Our participatory, direct democracy. Our true democracy. In the face of a North American political system that everyone knows is sinking in the mud.

Three differences that we have made in order to confront this situation are important. These decisions were taken in the party congress that just finished.

First, that under whatever circumstances, we will move forward in fulfilling the program of the seven transformations for which the people of Venezuela voted in seven constitutional elections in one year, which were renewed by the presidency of the Republic, through the National Assembly, the governorships, the legislative councils, the mayoralties, and the municipal councils. I believe it’s a clear demonstration of the immense and overwhelming majority we have today. Furthermore, we believe that they, the Americans, do not tolerate our position in favor of a multipolar world. They do not tolerate that. But we are willing to maintain our line of sovereignty.

Secondly, to confirm and strengthen the process of direct democracy in the communes and communal circuits.

And thirdly, while it is true that our Bolivarian Revolution defines itself as peaceful, at this moment, if foreign troops invade our country, we will declare a republic in arms, which is the concept used by Simón Bolívar.

Because for us, there’s no room for debate about sovereignty or anything else. We are sovereign, or we don’t exist, we are independent, or we don’t exist. In that sense, we have managed to form a very broad political front with sectors from all the political currents that serve the country: 35 parties, all the business organizations, all the social organizations, all the community organizations.

Today, we are forming that broad front, and we also maintain a position of opening dialogue with the government of President Donald Trump. We believe that the fact that President Donald Trump and his government have deviated from the law and from international treaties means that there are no tensions regarding Venezuela, as the international press reports, between Venezuela and the United States.

No, these are not tensions. What we’re dealing with is a malicious, criminal aggression by the United States government against our country.

I have two more questions. One, the oil issue. The Venezuelan government has always openly stated that it is willing to work with the United States on an equal footing, with mutual respect, including in economic terms. In other words, Venezuela doesn’t deny or reject to sell oil to the US. So why do you think that the oil is a reason for this aggression?

I answer you with a fact, with a fact, not with a statement, but with a fact. The Chevron company operates in our country, producing 600,000 barrels of oil daily. Under what regulation? Under our law, simply.

But then I wonder, to better understand, if Venezuela is willing to negotiate, to cooperate, in terms of oil tanker trade, what exactly is the United States seeking?

It’s regime change. Overthrow of the government, because it’s not a matter of negotiation. What we’re doing is opposing the United States’ illegal policy of sanctions, tariffs, and imposition, because the United States has erased free trade for the entire world, not just Venezuela. The United States has erased the concepts of the World Trade Organization. And the United States has erased the United Nations. Not us; we believe in the United Nations system. We believe in free trade. Furthermore, we believe we have the right to trade with whomever suits us.

But beyond that, there’s an extremely important issue. The United States is trying to colonize Venezuela. And that’s simply not possible. It’s not possible. I mean, our history, the development of our democratic institutions, and the patriotism of our people make that impossible.

That’s why we have, as the president said recently, I think you read it in one of my articles, the irreducible determination to win.

Last question, how are Latin American countries reacting to this threat?

 Different reactions are different reactions. That is to say, governments openly subordinated to US policy, such as the government of Paraguay, the governments of Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador, have reacted by kowtowing to Donald Trump’s policies. I think these political decisions are going to go very badly for them; they are very delicate and not advisable for any country.

And on the other hand, there is something very important: solidarity, respect for the position held by the president of the United Mexican States, Claudia Sheinbaum, which we respect and applaud. And the position of the President of the United Mexican States, which has been maintained by President Lula of Brazil, and the belligerent position that President Petro has taken on this case. Remember his recent speech at the United Nations. But also, a very specific fact that must be emphasized:  Petro said that he will not allow his territory to be used to invade our country.

Thank you very much.