European political leaders warn US “No War on Venezuela”

In a public letter coordinated by the Progressive International, the signatories — including Jeremy Corbyn, Manon Aubry, Yanis Varoufakis, Irene Montero, and others — express deep concern over the deployment of U.S. carrier groups, strategic bombers, fighter aircraft, and troops to the region. They argue that the military buildup represents a grave threat to Venezuelan sovereignty and could trigger the first-ever U.S. interstate war on South American soil.

The letter highlights reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has moved toward the Caribbean, while B-52 bombers have conducted missions near Venezuelan airspace. The authors also reference recent lethal U.S. strikes on small boats — reportedly killing dozens — as evidence that the escalation is already causing loss of life.

Drawing on declassified historical records, the signatories compare today’s situation to past U.S.-backed regime-change operations in Chile (1973), Brazil (1964), and Guatemala (1954). They argue that contemporary rhetoric around “narcoterrorism” mirrors the logic of the U.S. “War on Drugs,” which they say has fueled violence and destabilisation across Latin America.

Their message is unequivocal: No war on Venezuela. They call on progressive forces throughout Europe to stand with Venezuelans in defence of international law and national sovereignty.

Full text of the letter and signatories

We, the undersigned parliamentarians and political leaders from across Europe, raise a grave alarm against the imminent threat of US military intervention in Venezuela.

The prelude to invasion is already underway. A US naval armada — at least eight warships, strategic bombers, fighter aircraft, and at least 10,000 soldiers — now patrols the Caribbean. This show of force has already proved lethal, with strikes on small boats killing at least 67 people. The Trump administration has severed diplomatic channels with Caracas and approved covert CIA operations in Venezuela, while US Air Force B-52 bombers circle over the Caribbean Sea. Carrier Strike Group 12, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, is crossing the Atlantic en route to the Caribbean bringing with it thousands more troops.

This escalation is not an anomaly; it is merely the US’ latest attempt to threaten and undermine the sovereignty of Latin America and the Caribbean nations. Declassified documents have confirmed the CIA’s hand in overthrowing democratically-elected governments in Latin America, such as Salvador Allende’s Chile in 1973, João Goulart’s Brazil in 1964, and Jacobo Árbenz’s Guatemala in 1954. The human cost of these regime change operations was catastrophic, and their political legacy endures.

But this military buildup raises the stakes higher still. If the US launches a military intervention in Venezuela, it would mark the first interstate war by the United States in South America.

The pretext for intervention is as tired as it is familiar. Under the banner of combating the “narcoterrorists”, Trump celebrates lethal strikes against peaceful fishermen arbitrarily labeled as carrying drugs.

We have read this script before. In Colombia, Mexico, and across Latin America, the US “War on Drugs” delivered not security but a torrent of bloodshed, dispossession, and destabilisation.

Therefore, we condemn in the strongest terms the military escalation against Venezuela. We call on progressive forces across Europe to stand with the Venezuelan people.

Our demand is clear and our resolve is firm: No war on Venezuela.

Signed,

Brian Leishman

Richard Leonard

Mercedes Villalba

David Wagner

Jon Trickett

Paul Murphy

Peter Mertens

Jeremy Corbyn

John McDonnell MP

Kim Johnson

Gerry Carroll

Richard Burgon MP

Zarah Sultana

Marc Botenga

Martina Velarde Gómez

Noemí Santana Perera

Fabian Molina

Ayoub Khan

Iqbal Mohamed

Irene Montero Gil

Isabel Serra Sánchez

Steve Witherden

Adnan Hussain

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Yanis Varoufakis

Manon Aubry

Rudi Kennes

Clive Lewis

Pernando Barrena Arza

Özlem A. Demirel

Lisa Schubert

Tamara Mazzi

Anthony SMITH

Leila Chaibi

Łukasz Kozak

Marije Fullaondo

Irati Jimenez

Diana Urrea

Félix Alonso

Tesh Andala

Eloi Badia

Rafael Cofiño

Candela López

Esther Gil de Reboleño

Nahuel González

Txema Guijarro

Alberto Ibañez

Manuel Lago

Alberto Ibañez

Carlos Martín

Verónica Martínez

Lander Martínez

Viviane Ogou Corbi

Gerardo Pisarello

Jorge Pueyo

Engracia Rivera

Enrique de Santiago

Agustín Santos

Francisco Sierra

Juan Antonio Valero

Vicenç Vidal

Aina Vidal

Image: Tajh Payne/Getty Images