French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized this Tuesday (11) the military operations carried out by the US in the Caribbean against drug trafficking, according to the Turkish agency. Anadolu and the newspaper The Business Standard.
During the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Ontario, Canada, Barrot stated that US actions in the region “violate international law” and could generate “instability caused by potential escalations”.
“We observe with concern the military operations in the Caribbean region because they disrespect international law”, declared the minister, as reported by the Anadolu citing the broadcaster France 24.
According to the The Business Standardthe head of French diplomacy highlighted that more than a million French citizens live in overseas territories in the Caribbean and could be directly affected “by the instability caused by any escalation”. The minister also defended that the G7 countries “work together” to combat drug trafficking without compromising regional stability.
The United States Armed Forces carried out at least 19 attacks against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in the deaths of 76 criminals. Recently, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, the largest in the world, arrived in the region, accompanied by eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft.
US President Donald Trump has expanded the American military presence in Latin America with the deployment of marines, fighter jets, bombers and drones. The president also accused Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and threatened to take “direct measures” against the Chavista regime.
Caracas says that the US military movement near its territorial waters is provocative in nature and could trigger an open conflict.
