Venezuela complains to OPEC about US attempts to seize its oil

Venezuela on Sunday complained to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) about the U.S. attempts to seize its oil through the use of military force.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez read the letter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to OPEC members at the 192nd OPEC Conference, condemning the U.S. attempts to control the Venezuelan oil reserve by force.

In the letter, Maduro said that since August this year, U.S. President Donald Trump has continuously carried out harassment and threats against Venezuela, which has severely endangered regional and international peace, security, and stability.

Currently, the United States has deployed more than 14 warships and 15,000 military personnel in the Caribbean region, conducted over 20 attacks on so-called drug-related vessels, resulting in the extrajudicial killings of more than 80 people. It has also publicly repeated its threats to use military force against Venezuelan territory.

Such actions constitute a blatant violation of the UN Charter and other provisions of international law, said Maduro.

Venezuela has formally filed a complaint to OPEC and the OPEC+ mechanism, accusing the U.S. government of attempting to seize Venezuela's and the world’s largest oil reserves by using lethal military force against Venezuelan territory, people, and institutions.

Such acts of the United States not only violate the fundamental norms governing peaceful coexistence among nations but also seriously endanger the stability of Venezuela's oil production and the order of the international market, said Maduro.

The letter also called on oil-producing countries to establish a sovereign production alliance free from external interference.

All countries should provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing in response to a media query about international business environment and relevant laws.

"The Chinese government has always required Chinese enterprises to carry out international cooperation in compliance with international rules, laws and regulations. At the same time, we believe that all countries should protect the normal investment and business activities of enterprises and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for that purpose," Mao said.