Non-Aligned Movement calls for withdrawal of extra-regional military forces from the Caribbean

CARACAS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Tuesday denounced the presence of extra-regional military forces in the Caribbean and called for their withdrawal to help preserve regional and international stability.

The bloc expressed its position in a statement shared by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on his Telegram account.

NAM, comprising 121 UN member states and being the largest political grouping of the Global South, reaffirmed its commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that threats, interference and intimidation run counter to UN principles.

The group reiterated that military action is not an option for resolving disputes between states, saying that "extra-regional military assets must be withdrawn in the interest of regional and international peace, security and stability."

Member states also voiced support for efforts to preserve regional peace, including maintaining Latin America and the Caribbean as a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone and a Zone of Peace, as declared by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2014.

The movement urged foreign powers to act with restraint and avoid "provocative statements and aggressive, incendiary rhetoric." It emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable paths for addressing any situation.

The statement comes three months after the United States deployed a naval fleet to the Caribbean under what it describes as a counter-narcotics mission. Venezuela has denounced the move as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability. Enditem