The safety of our hemisphere was drastically threatened in the early morning hours of January 3rd, when the U.S. conducted a violent military assault which United Nations experts have stated are flagrant violations of the UN Charter that set a dangerous precedent. The attacks, in and around the capital of Venezuela, resulted in dozens of fatalities, and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

While other leaders across the Americas have spoken up with integrity to condemn this latest example of U.S. aggression against Venezuela, Canada has failed to even mention the attack. Violations of the UN Charter and international law must be condemned and the Trump administration's ongoing threats to peace and security in the hemisphere must be stopped.

Canada must take strong, clear and immediate action by:

• Defending the UN Charter and unequivocally condemning U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Canada should also condemn U.S. threats of military intervention in other countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, and threats against Cuba.
• Taking steps to prevent complicity including immediately suspending intelligence sharing with the U.S. via Operation CARIBBE; and closing the loophole that allows for the export of military goods to the U.S. despite clear risk they could be used in military operations that violate international law and human rights.
• Articulating an independent foreign policy centred on defending the full spectrum of human rights, affirming peace, life with dignity and justice, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations, and the right of peoples to self-determination without fear of invasion.