By Akani Nkuna
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has raised concern over the presence of United States military ships near Venezuelan waters, describing it as a provocation aimed at undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty.
This follows the deployment of three U.S. military vessels close to Venezuela, in what Washington says is an effort to combat Latin American drug cartels allegedly backed by the Venezuelan government.
The move, driven by Donald Trump’s administration, has heightened fears of regional conflict.
In response, Venezuela has mobilised its military, while regional allies voiced alarm over U.S. intentions.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana said in a statement on Saturday, that the U.S. military presence is part of a broader strategy to perpetuate political and economic destabilisation in Latin America for imperialist gain.
“The actions of the United States regime, through its military, to violate the sovereignty of Venezuela constitute a continuation of its policy of political destabilisation and economic asphyxiation of the entire South American region, under various pretexts to serve its imperialist objectives,” he said.
The SACP and other global stakeholders argue that Washington’s actions go beyond addressing drug cartels, pointing instead to U.S. economic interests—particularly access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
“The immediate United States economic interests, particularly in the energy sector, are linked to its objective of obtaining unrestricted access and control over the oil resources of Venezuela, thereby positioning itself favourably in the global and regional energy markets,” Mandlana said.
He added that the U.S. seeks to manufacture instability across South America to justify military intervention.
Mandlana called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. ships, urging compliance with international law.
He denounced the deployment as an act of aggression aimed at undermining the Bolivarian Revolution and the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.
“The imperialist mind-set of the United States and its policy of treating South America as its backyard epitomises the violent and immoral nature of the American state in its interactions with nations worldwide,” he added.
The EFF has also added its voice in support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, commending his decision to mobilise militias against the United States. The party described the move as necessary and a reflection of Venezuela’s “unbreakable commitment to protect its people.”
“We call upon all progressive nations to unite in condemning U.S. aggression and the Trump administration’s reckless warmongering. The world must not remain silent as imperialism resurfaces. We demand the immediate withdrawal of U.S. naval forces, an end to all sanctions, and the removal of the bounty on President Maduro,” EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said in a statement.
Thambo further urged the international community and organisations such as the United Nations to speak out against Washington’s actions, while calling on civil society to join the resistance.
“The EFF urges the United Nations to condemn this blatant violation of its own Charter. All nations that uphold international law and respect Venezuela’s sovereignty, alongside progressive civil society, must unite against this grave injustice. The struggle for sovereignty is a struggle for all of humanity,” he said.
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