By drs. Leonard Coffi, MBA
Curaçao does not have direct access to information about decisions and actions between the United States and Venezuela. This situation creates tension for the Caribbean. The United States is known as the most advanced and best-armed country to meet a military challenge, although the United States has also experienced military defeats throughout its history.
In this situation Venezuela will not be successful in a military engagement with the US. For several months now, the United States has been bombing all boats it considers drug carriers, traffickers, or narco-terrorists.
The US does not intercept these boats; on the contrary, they are remotely destroyed by US military ships and aircraft. The crews of these boats do not survive these attacks.
After several protests that the bombings of boats of drug traffickers or narco-terrorists are taking place in international waters, the United States continues its activities as usual.
We have to conclude that no country, national or international organization can do anything about these illegal practices by the United States.
Key points include among others:
- Is it true that the United States wants to destroy the drug market between the United States and Venezuela?
- America has always been interested in oil, and Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world (17.5% of the world’s total).
- The United States is very interested in the so-called exceptional minerals that will determine future technological development.
- The United States wants to force regime change in Venezuela, establishing a regime with better contacts and fostering trade between the two countries.
- Ms. Maria Corina Machado, winner of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, is mentioned as the next president of Venezuela when current President Nicolas Maduro leaves office.
- President Trump even suggests that talks will take place between him and President Maduro. Naturally, everyone is curious about the potential agreements between these countries.
- In recent weeks, several members of the Dutch parliament have posed questions to the Dutch Kingdom government about this threatening situation for Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
- The United States’ military capacity in the Caribbean is gradually increased with modern aircraft and larger and more advanced American warships, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford.
- In the Caribbean, organizations are reaching out to each other with the idea of supporting each other in achieving a Zone of Peace in the Caribbean.
Curaçao would benefit from a solution that does not lead to negative consequences for our island and the region. These include the threat and practice of war, the loss of tourism, the decline in trade and fishing, the loss of contact with South America, and the loss of contact between countries and islands in our region.
