In a significant diplomatic development, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a strategic phone conversation on Saturday addressing escalating military tensions in the Caribbean region. The discussion centered on what both leaders characterized as aggressive military posturing by external powers threatening regional stability.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil disclosed that President Erdogan expressed profound concern regarding recent threats facing Venezuela, specifically referencing military deployments and actions purportedly designed to undermine peace and security in the Caribbean basin. The two leaders engaged in comprehensive dialogue about contemporary global geopolitics and international developments with implications for worldwide stability and humanity’s future.
President Maduro condemned ongoing military maneuvers in the Caribbean as “illegal, disproportionate, unnecessary and even extravagant” acts of aggression. He reaffirmed Venezuela’s commitment to peaceful resolution despite mounting pressures. Concurrently with the diplomatic exchange, Venezuela conducted a swearing-in ceremony for 5,600 new soldiers at Fuerte Tiuna, the nation’s largest military complex in Caracas.
The military expansion comes in response to the United States deploying a substantial naval contingent to the region, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier, under the justification of combating narcotics trafficking. Recent operations have resulted in US forces striking over 20 vessels with reported casualties exceeding 87 lives.
Colonel Gabriel Rendon, during the military ceremony, emphatically stated: “Under no circumstances will we allow an invasion by an imperialist force.” Venezuela maintains approximately 200,000 active troops with an additional 200,000 police officers according to official statistics.
Beyond security matters, the bilateral discussion encompassed enhanced economic cooperation. President Maduro expressed Venezuela’s determination to advance trade relations with Turkey toward a mutual goal of $3 billion in annual commerce. Both parties acknowledged the importance of reestablishing direct flight connectivity between Caracas and Istanbul to facilitate tourism and investment flows. This follows Turkish Airlines’ recent suspension of Venezuelan operations due to US Federal Aviation Administration safety advisories.
President Maduro extended a formal invitation for President Erdogan to visit Venezuela in the upcoming year for the fifth Joint Cooperation Commission meeting, signaling continued alignment between the two nations.