CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday that he has asked Pope Leo XIV to help keep peace in the South American country.
President Maduro’s comments came as the U.S. military continues its military operations. attack a suspected drug carrier in the waters off the coast of Venezuela President Donald Trump declared “Armed conflict” with cartels. Maduro said in the letter that he asked Leo for help.
“I strongly believe that Pope Leo will help maintain and achieve peace and stability in Venezuela, as I stated in the letter that I sent,” Maduro said in his weekly program on state television.
President Maduro did not provide details of the letter. His government press office did not immediately respond to a request for a copy of the document.
of US forces carried out four deadly attacks I’ve been to the Caribbean since last month. The latest incident left four people dead on Friday.
The Trump administration told lawmakers it treats drug traffickers as illegal combatants and that military force is needed to fight them. The president’s assertion of war powers sets the stage for expanded action; The question is how far the government will go without it approval from Congress.
President Maduro has repeatedly said the U.S. military’s actions are aimed at ousting him.
