This Monday, the Venezuelan Parliament unanimously approved the Law to Guarantee the Freedoms of Navigation and Trade Against Piracy, Blockades, and Other International Illicit Acts, amidst US aggression and the illegal seizure of Venezuelan crude oil by the US government.

“In an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, we unanimously approved, in its first reading, the Bill to guarantee the freedoms of navigation and trade against piracy, blockades, and other international illicit acts,” highlighted the president of the legislative body, Jorge Rodríguez.

RELATED:

Venezuela’s National Assembly condemns US takeover of CITGO

After announcing the news, Rodríguez stated that the country is facing the same piracy scenario as during the colonial era: “They are worthy heirs of Sir Francis Drake, knighted by Queen Elizabeth I, simply for being a pirate in the Caribbean.”

The law seeks to “protect the country’s trade relations and Venezuelans from predatory actions by the United States government in Venezuelan waters,” as emphasized by Congressman Giuseppe Alesandrello.

“The people of Venezuela, with composure, decency, and dignity, will respond to all aggressions and will prevail; have no doubt about that,” declared the president of Congress, Jorge Rodríguez.

Venezuelan authorities compared the crimes of the U.S. government to those committed by the British Empire: “We are currently witnessing the same pattern, the same pirate practices.”

Furthermore, they warn of the international community’s inaction in the face of attacks on oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude, under the false pretense of the fight against drug trafficking. Despite UN reports confirming Venezuela as a territory free of drug cultivation and processing, the Trump Administration uses this justification to steal Venezuelan oil.

Deputy José Gregorio Correa, of the Democratic Action party, speaking on behalf of the opposition bloc in the National Assembly, endorsed the bill seeking to establish a response to the acts of piracy perpetrated by Trump and his administration in the Caribbean Sea.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.