China Pledges 'Solidarity' with Venezuela Amid U.S. Military Operations in Caribbean
CARACAS, Venezuela — China has pledged its support for Venezuela’s efforts to maintain regional peace, standing “in solidarity” with Caracas as it faces U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Venezuela's top diplomat announced Wednesday.
In a statement highlighting the deepening ties between the two nations, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil said he met with Chinese Ambassador Lan Hu, who affirmed Beijing's backing against what Caracas describes as acts of aggression by Washington.
The declaration comes amid heightened tensions in the region, where the United States has intensified its counter-narcotics operations. The U.S. military has conducted strikes on vessels it alleges are involved in drug trafficking, a move that the Venezuelan government has condemned as a violation of its sovereignty and a pretext for intervention.
"We had a pleasant meeting with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Lan Hu, who reiterated his country's support for our efforts to preserve the Caribbean as a zone of peace," Gil posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "He expressed his solidarity in the face of U.S. military actions against boats, under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking."
According to Gil's account, Ambassador Lan stressed Beijing's firm stance in support of Venezuela's territorial integrity and its right to self-determination.
Washington has long accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and high-ranking officials in his government of narco-terrorism, charges that Caracas vehemently denies. The U.S. Southern Command has maintained a significant naval and air presence in the Caribbean, justified as a necessary measure to disrupt illicit drug routes and combat transnational criminal organizations.
However, the Venezuelan government views these operations as part of a broader "hybrid war" and a campaign of "maximum pressure" orchestrated by the U.S. to destabilize the country and oust the Maduro administration.
China's public expression of support is a significant diplomatic boost for Venezuela. As one of Caracas's most crucial economic and political allies, Beijing has provided billions of dollars in loans, invested in its oil industry, and consistently used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to shield Venezuela from harsher international sanctions.
This latest statement signals a firm alignment with Venezuela on security matters in a region historically considered within the U.S. sphere of influence. Analysts suggest that China's backing, while primarily diplomatic at this stage, serves as a clear rebuke to U.S. policy in Latin America and reinforces the geopolitical rivalry between the two superpowers.
The U.S. State Department has not yet issued a formal response to the Venezuelan announcement. Tensions in the Caribbean are expected to remain high as the U.S. continues its interdiction efforts and Venezuela, now bolstered by explicit support from a global power, continues to challenge their legitimacy.