NDP response to US attack on Venezuela

NDP Leader Don Davies issued the following statement:

"UN Charter Article 2(4) is a core principle of international law. It prohibits all states from the threat/use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other state, banning war & coercion except self-defense or UN Security Council authorization.

The US attack on Venezuela is neither an act of self defence nor does it have UN Security Council authorization. It is therefore totally illegal and a breach of the UN covenants the US has agreed to uphold as a Member State.

Trump’s declaration that US oil companies are going to take over Venezuelan oil production reveals the true motive for this attack: seizure of some of the largest oil reserves in the world. Apologists for this blatant violation of the UN Charter by the US can spin all they want - but this is clearly illegal, hypocritical and dangerous.

Maybe this reveals why Trump has been so hesitant to hold Putin to account for his invasion of Ukraine. The US can have no credibility upholding international law and the rights of nations when it blatantly violates those principles itself.

Canada must take a strong, principled position consistent with our values now."