On Friday, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham approached the Venezuelan fishing vessel Carmen Rosa within Venezuela's exclusive economic zone, about 48 nautical miles northeast of La Blanquilla island. The vessel, crewed by nine fishermen, was engaged in routine operations when it was halted for eight hours.
The destroyer deployed 18 armed personnel to board and occupy the Carmen Rosa, blocked its communications and obstructed its normal operations, according to a statement posted on Telegram by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the action "a provocation through the illegal use of military means, aimed at justifying a war escalation in the Caribbean and pushing for regime change." He demanded that Washington "immediately cease these actions that put the security and peace of the Caribbean at risk," reaffirming Venezuela's commitment to peace and to defending its national sovereignty.
Reference(s):
Venezuela says U.S. illegally intercepts Venezuelan fishing vessel
cgtn.com
