Geneva, 22 October (H.S.): United Nations human rights experts declared on Tuesday that covert US military actions and threats against Venezuela violate Venezuela’s sovereignty and the UN Charter. The panel of independent experts condemned the operations, which are part of President Donald Trump’s stated military campaign to combat drug trafficking from Latin America.

In a sharply worded statement, the three special rapporteurs asserted that the US actions violate the fundamental international obligations not to intervene in the domestic affairs or threaten to use armed force against another country.

They warned that these moves represent an extremely dangerous escalation with grave security implications for the Caribbean region.The experts highlighted that at least six vessels, mostly speedboats, have been targeted by US strikes in the Caribbean since September, resulting in at least 27 deaths. They argued that Washington has provided no evidence that the individuals killed were drug smugglers.

Even if such allegations were substantiated, the use of lethal force in international waters without proper legal basis… amounts to extrajudicial executions, the experts said.They also refuted any claim of self-defense under international law, noting that groups like Tren de Aragua, which Trump has labeled a terrorist organization, are not attacking the United States.

President Trump has previously indicated he authorized covert CIA operations against Venezuela.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil welcomed the findings, stating on Telegram, The experts corroborate what we have denounced: the United States is manufacturing enemies to justify a supposed right to defence, which leads to massacres in the Caribbean Sea.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar