Venezuela Denounces US Warship for Assaulting Fishing Boat in National Waters
Caracas condemns USS Jason Dunham’s illegal boarding of Venezuelan tuna vessel, calls it a provocation to escalate tensions in the Caribbean
Venezuela, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounced this Saturday that the US Navy missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham illegally assaulted a Venezuelan fishing vessel in the country’s jurisdictional waters, in what Caracas described as a provocation aimed at generating tensions in the region.
According to teleSURtv, The incident occurred on Friday, September 12, when the fishing vessel Carmen Rosa, crewed by nine tuna fishermen, was sailing 48 nautical miles northeast of La Blanquilla Island, within Venezuela’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
During a press appearance at the headquarters of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Yván Gil detailed that heavily armed US marines boarded the fishing vessel in a “hostile and illegitimate” manner.
“Eighteen men armed with long weapons” from the USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), a destroyer equipped with cruise missiles, occupied the Venezuelan fishing vessel, according to Minister Gil.
Venezuelan authorities released images taken by the fishermen themselves showing the moment of the boarding and the presence of the US warship in waters under national jurisdiction.
Violation of International Law
According to the statement, the Bolivarian Navy maintained constant surveillance throughout the episode, confirmed the Foreign Minister. Gil emphasized that the events constituted a flagrant violation of international maritime law, as they occurred in Venezuelan waters.
The official specified that the Carmen Rosa vessel is a longliner authorized by the Venezuelan Ministry of Fisheries to operate in the Caribbean Sea, making the military interception an act devoid of legal justification.
Gil warned that sectors of power in Washington seek to provoke incidents that justify military escalation in the Caribbean as part of their “failed regime change policy” against Venezuela.
“They place their soldiers and officers as cannon fodder,” denounced the minister, comparing these events to historical episodes that led to prolonged armed conflicts, such as in Vietnam.
Venezuela Demands Explanations
The incident takes on particular relevance as it occurred in Venezuela’s EEZ, a maritime area where the country exercises sovereign rights over natural resources up to 200 nautical miles from its coast
The interception of the fishing vessel in these waters constitutes, under international law, an intrusion into Venezuelan jurisdiction that requires justification under specific treaties.
Venezuela has requested formal explanations about this episode, while evaluating submitting the complaint before the corresponding international bodies. (PW)