The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, launched a strong denunciation against the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during his official visit to Ecuador this Thursday, describing the Chavista leader as “a fugitive charged with drug trafficking” and dismissing UN reports that discount Venezuela as a drug-producing country.
"I don't care what the United Nations says. Maduro is a fugitive; he is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He is indicted in the United States, facing charges in the Southern District of New York by a grand jury," Rubio stated at a press conference in Quito during his tour of Latin America.
He clarified that "he is a drug trafficker and a terrorist who was indicted by a grand jury in New York," and "a new indictment two years ago" detailed Nicolás Maduro's connections with drug cartels, especially in the later years of Hugo Chávez, he explained.
The high-ranking U.S. official also issued a direct warning to drug trafficking cartels on Wednesday, from Mexico, following a recent military operation in the Caribbean against a vessel reportedly linked to the criminal group Tren de Aragua.
"These cartels know they are taking risks because they are making billions of dollars. They don't mind losing 2% of their shipments. But let there be no doubt: they will not continue to operate with impunity," said Rubio, who emphasized that Washington has precise intelligence on the movements of these organizations.
According to his explanation, narcoterrorist groups are operating in international waters to transport drugs to the United States, which prompted a direct military response ordered by President Donald Trump.
“President Trump has been clear: necessary force will be used to protect the American people. We will not tolerate transnational criminals using Venezuela as a platform for their illicit activities,” added the Secretary of State.
The U.S. president himself spoke out on the matter this Wednesday following a meeting with his Polish counterpart. In his statements, Trump asserted that the vessel intercepted in the Caribbean “was carrying a substantial amount of drugs destined for our country to kill a lot of people.”
“Venezuela has been very bad in this regard. It has sent millions of people to our country, including some of the worst criminals in the world,” the president denounced, thus reinforcing his government's stance against Caracas.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tensions between the United States and Venezuela
Why does Marco Rubio refer to Nicolás Maduro as a "fugitive charged with drug trafficking"?
Marco Rubio considers Nicolás Maduro a fugitive because he is being prosecuted in the United States, facing charges in the southern district of New York from a grand jury. Rubio also accuses him of having ties to drug cartels, particularly during the final years of Hugo Chávez's administration. This indictment is part of U.S. allegations that Maduro leads the so-called "Cartel of the Suns," a narco-terrorist organization.
What measures is the United States taking against drug trafficking linked to Venezuela?
The United States has intensified its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying warships and submarines as part of a bolstered anti-drug operation. Additionally, military attacks have been conducted against vessels linked to drug trafficking, including a recent lethal strike against a boat allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua. The Trump administration has made it clear that it intends to use "all necessary power" to curb the influx of drugs into the country.
What is Donald Trump's stance on the Maduro regime?
Donald Trump does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. He considers his regime to be a "narcoterrorism cartel" and accuses Maduro of trafficking drugs to the United States. The Trump administration has increased the reward for capturing Maduro and has designated the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization, reinforcing its hardline stance against the Chavista government.
How has the Venezuelan government responded to the accusations from the United States?
The government of Nicolás Maduro has rejected the accusations from the United States, labeling them as an "imperialist threat." Maduro has deployed troops to the border with Colombia and urged citizens to join the militias. Furthermore, he has denounced a supposed U.S. plot to justify a military intervention, claiming that the conflict is more about interests in Venezuela's natural resources than about drug trafficking.
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