Puerto Rico’s governor urged President-elect Trump to intervene after Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro threatened to invade the U.S. island territory.
In a letter addressed to Trump, Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colón said, “[J]Days after holding an illegitimate swearing-in ceremony in a desperate attempt to hang on to power in Venezuela, “Maduro publicly proposed an invasion of Puerto Rico.”
Maduro, who was sworn in for a third six-year presidency despite international condemnation of his recent re-election as illegitimate, made the threat on Saturday at the end of the “International Anti-Fascist Festival” held in Caracas. “Just as the North has an agenda of colonization, we have an agenda of liberation,” the socialist dictator said, in an apparent reference to Trump’s comments regarding US control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. According to Latin America reports, Maduro vowed that “Puerto Rico’s independence is pending, and we will achieve it with Brazilian troops.”
“This is an open threat to the United States, our national security and stability in the region,” Gonzalez-Colón told Trump. “I am confident that your incoming administration will respond swiftly and make clear to the Maduro regime that, under your leadership, the United States will defend American lives and sovereignty and will not bow to the threats of petty, murderous dictators.”
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks in front of the Presidential Palace in Caracas on January 10, 2025. (Pedro Raines Matti/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Gonzalez-Colón, who took office earlier this month, said Puerto Rico has been “an essential part of the United States” since 1898, and reiterated how Puerto Rico was granted U.S. citizenship in 1917 and “They have contributed to every aspect of American life, including the island’s millions of service members who have fought alongside our fellow citizens in every American military conflict since World War I.” Have fought.”
“Contrary to Maduro and other opponents’ calls for independence, the people of Puerto Rico have repeatedly rejected this option. Instead, we have chosen to strengthen our union with the United States through statehood. have voted – simultaneously with our general elections – in a referendum held on November 5, 2024,” González-Colón said in the latest non-binding statement regarding Puerto Rico’s political status. Wrote while referring to the referendum.
The results showed that 56.87% voted in favor of US statehood, while 12.29% opted for “free association with the United States”. Meanwhile, 30.84% voted for independence.
The island’s current status as a US territory, as well as the option to retain US citizenship, were not included on the referendum ballot.
Gonzalez-Colón, a Republican and member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, also reiterated how Puerto Rico is home to Fort Buchanan — the only U.S. Army installation in the Caribbean — and National Guard facilities such as Camp Santiago, Fort Allen and Muniz. Air National Guard bases, “all of which strategically support exercises and operations conducted by the U.S. military and our allies.” The letter notes how Puerto Rico “hosts critical U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection assets and units that secure our borders and combat the drug trafficking networks that fund the Maduro narco-regime.” “Helps us cope.”
Puerto Rico’s newly sworn-in Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colón delivers her inaugural address at the Capitol in San Juan on January 2, 2025. (Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images)
He said the United States shares a maritime border with Venezuela in Puerto Rico.
“Maduro’s calls for an invasion are a clear attempt to get rid of the United States’ presence and increase its influence in the region,” González-Colón wrote. He told Trump he was “ready to work with you and your administration to combat this.” “The other threats posed by the illegitimate Maduro dictatorship and our support for the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom.”
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González-Colón also said she looked forward to “meaningful discussions to better enhance Puerto Rico’s national security role and take a stronger stance against the growing presence of our adversaries in the region.”
Rep. Mario Rafael Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., praised Gonzalez-Colón’s leadership, condemning “the absurd and pathetic threats to Puerto Rico from the Venezuelan dictator – a dictator desperately clinging to illegitimate power ”
Supporters during the inauguration ceremony of Gonzalez-Colón at the Santa Catalina Palace in San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 2, 2025. (Javier Garcia/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Díaz-Balart wrote, “Contrast the courage and inspiration shown by the Venezuelan people and the heroine María Corina Machado.” “With Biden in the White House, opponents like the Maduro narco-dictatorship have been emboldened by his weak policy of appeasement. But in less than a week, a new foreign policy will begin where freedoms and US national security interests are paramount.” Friends will be treated as friends and opponents will be treated as adversaries.”
“Maduro’s days are numbered,” the congressman said. “If the Venezuelan dictator does not want to end up like other dictators like Mussolini and Gaddafi, he should leave Venezuela without delay.”
When Maduro was sworn in last week, Biden defended his decision not to tighten sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, saying he was concerned it could open the way to flooding with Iranian oil.
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Despite sanctioning several Maduro officials, the administration did not terminate the license granted to oil giant Chevron to export Venezuelan oil to the US, resulting in the license significantly boosting oil production and the state’s coffers. .
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
