Qualifying it as an erratic and childish provocation by the US Southern Command, Venezuela denounced the presence, with the argument of «patrolling» against drug trafficking, of the guided missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), of the Arleigh Burke class of the US Navy, at 16.1 nautical miles off the Venezuelan coast.
This type of action, which is recidivist, is denounced to the national and international community as intimidating and intentional, while «the use of a warship with long-range missile capacity to carry out alleged operations of this nature is deeply surprising. This is clearly a deliberate, erratic and childish act of provocation, which highlights the lack of professional rigor of the U.S. Southern Command”, as emphasizes a statement issued by the Chancellor of the Republic, Jorge Arreaza.
Venezuela ratifies «its unwavering commitment with the guarantee and protection of its sacred sovereignty and territorial integrity, always in compliance with international laws» and «expresses that it will not fall in absurd provocations that pretend to alter the peace and security of the Venezuelan people and the brother Caribbean peoples».
Following, the full text of the communiqué published by the Chancellor on Twitter:
«The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela addresses the national and international community to denounce the intimidating intentions of the US Southern Command, through the presence .1 guided missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) of the Arleigh Burke class of the US Navy, in the Venezuelan Contiguous Zone at a distance of 16.1 nautical miles from the Venezuelan coasts.
The U.S. warship recognized the authority of the Venezuelan State by responding to the radio communications of the Bolivarian Navy, alleging that it was carrying out patrol operations against drug trafficking.
The use of a warship with long-range missile capacity to carry out alleged operations of this nature is deeply surprising. This is clearly a deliberate, erratic and infantile act of provocation, which shows the lack of professional rigor of the US Southern Command.
It is worth remembering that last July 16, 2020, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela made a similar denounce, by virtue of the then stealthy incursion of the warship USS P1NCKNEY (DD.91). It is evident then, that this is a recidivist and intentional conduct by the United States.
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces carries out systematic and permanent patrols in its territorial and jurisdictional waters in its effective fight against the scourge of drug trafficking. Likewise, Venezuela expresses that it will not fall into absurd provocations that intend to alter the peace and security of the Venezuelan people and the brother Caribbean peoples, while reiterating its unwavering commitment to the guarantee and protection of its sacred sovereignty and territorial integrity, always in compliance with international laws».
