Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appealed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,OPEC, for support as tensions with the United States intensify over military deployments and energy security.
The appeal was conveyed in a letter sent to OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais and publicized by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Telegram.
Maduro stated that Venezuela “will remain firm” in protecting its natural resources and described the U.S. posture as a “mechanism of force” aimed at taking control of the country’s vast oil reserves through “lethal military force” directed at its territory and institutions.
He argued that the actions threaten international norms and jeopardize the stability of Venezuelan oil output and the broader global energy market.
Maduro also referenced the “harmful consequences” of past U.S. interventions in other oil-producing states, stressing that Venezuela would not “succumb to any type of blackmail or threat” from Washington.
The letter urged OPEC members to coordinate a collective response to prevent disruptions that could destabilize the energy market for both producing and consuming nations.
In a separate statement, Venezuela’s Vice President warned that the United States is attempting to seize the country’s natural energy resources through military pressure.
She asserted that the country “will remain firm in the defense of its natural energy resources,” describing Venezuela’s reserves as the largest in the world.
READ ALSO: US fails to capture Venezuela’s Maduro by bribing his pilot
The diplomatic outreach comes as the U.S. expands its military presence in the region. President Donald Trump recently suggested that Venezuelan airspace could be “completely shut down,” prompting Caracas to demand “unconditional respect.” U.S. forces have deployed more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops across the Caribbean as part of “Operation Southern Spear,” carrying out multiple strikes on vessels described as being involved in drug trafficking. Trump said new operations would soon extend to land-based targets linked to narcotics activity.
Trump is set to meet at 5 p.m. ET Monday in the Oval Office to discuss U.S. strategy on Venezuela with senior officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the White House Chief of Staff.
The president confirmed he had spoken with Maduro by phone but did not disclose the substance of the conversation.
The meeting follows the administration’s recent designation of Maduro and several officials as members of a foreign terrorist organization, a step that U.S. officials say broadens available military options.
The escalation has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers over the legality of recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels, which have reportedly resulted in more than 80 deaths.
Senator Angus King said Congress would examine the chain of command involved in authorizing follow-up strikes, warning that targeting survivors could constitute a “stone-cold war crime.”
With diplomatic appeals and military deployments unfolding simultaneously, analysts warn that the situation poses significant risks for regional stability and global oil markets.
Prime Business Africa
