New York-Sana
CAIRO (Reuters) - States on the continent voted to activate a defense pact aimed at Venezuela in a clear bow to the dictates of President Donald Trump's administration.
The move comes after the United States earlier this month launched the Inter-American Cooperation Treaty, which aims to tighten pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro against the backdrop of its independent and anti-American policies.
"The signatories to the treaty voted in favor of its implementation by a majority of 16 votes against," Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes said after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Targeting them with specific measures in the Venezuelan government.
According to Holmes, the signatories are Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and the United States.
While Uruguay refused to activate the treaty and Trinidad and Tobago abstained from voting and Cuba did not participate in the vote because it is not a member of the treaty, although not officially withdrawn.
Venezuela faces US interference in its internal affairs in an attempt to destabilize it by tightening economic and financial sanctions and supporting right-wing forces in desperate attempts to revive Washington's plans to dominate the country.