Presidents of Venezuela and Turkiye discuss military deployment in Caribbean

CARACAS — Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, spoke by phone on Saturday about global geopolitics and the military deployment in the Caribbean.

During their phone conversation, Erdogan "expressed deep concern over the threats recently facing Venezuela, particularly the military deployment and various actions intended to disrupt peace and security in the Caribbean", Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement.

The two leaders exchanged views on global geopolitics and the latest international developments affecting stability and the future of humanity, the statement added.

Maduro said the maneuvers in the Caribbean constitute an "illegal, disproportionate, unnecessary and even extravagant" act of aggression, adding that Venezuela will continue working for peace.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan army swore in 5,600 soldiers on Saturday, as the United States cranked up military pressure on the oil-producing country.

Maduro has called for stepped-up military recruitment after the US deployed a fleet of warships and the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

US forces have carried out deadly strikes on more than 20 vessels, killing at least 87.

"Under no circumstances will we allow an invasion by an imperialist force," Colonel Gabriel Rendon said on Saturday during a ceremony at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, in Caracas.

According to official figures, Venezuela has around 200,000 troops and an additional 200,000 police officers.

Achieving trade goal

On bilateral cooperation, Maduro said in the phone call with Erdogan that Venezuela is willing to move forward with Turkiye to reach the goal of $3 billion in trade.

According to the statement, the two sides also agreed on the importance of restoring direct air service between Caracas and Istanbul to facilitate travel for "thousands of tourists and investors".

Late last month, Turkish Airlines suspended its operations to Venezuela following a warning issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which urged "extreme caution "when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean.

Maduro also invited Erdogan to visit Venezuela next year for the fifth Joint Cooperation Commission meeting.

XINHUA-AGENCIES