The World Council of Churches General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, strongly condemned recent attacks carried out by the United States of America in Venezuela, including the capture and detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, describing the actions as “stunningly flagrant violations of international law.” He added that actions such as these “set a dangerous precedent and example for others who seek to shrug off all constraints against the use of armed aggression and brute force to achieve political objectives… In these dangerous and uncertain times, the world needs wise and courageous leaders for peace, rather than the proliferation of conflicts and the normalization of international illegality, risking a deeper descent into chaos. We pray for wisdom and peace to prevail in this context and in other parts of the world.”
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) also issued a strong condemnation of what it refers to as “the illegal act of aggression by the United States of America in Venezuela.” It further expresses deep concern over the growing political, economic, and social pressures facing Venezuela, including the threat of occupation by the United States. It calls for an immediate end to military interventions and for the US to respect international law.
Guided by the Accra Confession , which critiques systems of empire, domination, and exploitation, the WCRC emphasized that Venezuela’s crisis cannot be understood solely as a domestic political matter and calls for a consideration of the global implications of militarization in general and this morning’s aggression in particular. The country’s vast oil reserves and strategic importance have made it a focal point in global power struggles, increasing the risk that coercion, manipulation, or military threats could be normalized as tools for reshaping sovereign states. Such actions are an affront to human dignity and a direct challenge to God’s justice.
The PCC is a member of the WCC, WCRC and ACT Alliance:
Read the WCC’s full statement here: https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/wcc-statement-on-venezuela
Read the WCRC’s full statement here: https://wcrc.eu/wcrc-calls-for-solidarity-justice-amid-venezuela-crisis/
Read the statement of the ACT Latin America and Caribbean Forum:
https://actalliance.org/act-news/alerta-por-la-paz-regional-un-llamado-urgente-a-la-proteccion-de-la-vida-la-soberania-y-el-derecho-internacional/ .