SAO PAULO
A Latin American and Caribbean bloc has demanded the U.S. retract an executive order that designates Venezuela a "threat" to its national security.
A dozen heads of state and representatives from left-leaning nations of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, or ALBA, met Tuesday in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in an extraordinary meeting to discuss tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
"We declare our rejection of the executive order emitted on March 9, 2015, by the U.S. government on the basis that this order is unjustified and unfair, and that it constitutes a threat of interference against the principle of sovereignty and nonintervention in the internal affairs of states," the declaration stated.
The U.S.’s executive order declared a "national emergency … of the United States posed by the situation in Venezuela."
The bloc agreed to form a group of "facilitators" with other regional groups -- including Unasur, Celac and Caricom -- in order to mediate talks and de-escalate tensions.
The U.S. and Venezuela have been trading barbs for months, and recently imposed reciprocal sanctions, including bans on a number of officials entering each other’s territories.
"Venezuela has no plans, did not have, nor will it ever have plans to attack the United States or hurt anyone," said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who spoke at the ALBA meeting.
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño was more forceful and said the U.S.'s declaration was a "prelude to an invasion … it has happened many times before. We cannot risk tolerating this in any way," according to TeleSUR, adding that Latin America had advanced well economically and "in terms of social justice and political stability."
Cuban leader Raul Castro also signaled his strong backing for Maduro, accusing the U.S. of "intimidating" Venezuela.
Critics, however, recently slammed the Venezuelan government for passing a bill that allows Maduro to rule by decree until the end of the year, labeling it a "power grab."
The National Assembly is majority-controlled by the president's PSUV party.
The Enabling Law was passed in response to perceived threats by the United States to "defend Venezuela's sovereignty" against "anti-imperialist threats." The U.S. introduced sanctions against the South American nation citing human rights concerns.
A number of individuals, including political figures and students, remain in prison after being jailed for their involvement in last year's bloody anti-government protests. At least 43 people died from both sides of the political divide in three months of unrest.
Opposition leader Leopoldo López has been in jail for more than a year, and last month opposition Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma was also jailed.
Washington has demanded Venezuela release all political prisoners. Neighboring regional power Brazil also recently voiced "growing concern" about the state of the country.
Venezuela's economy has suffered greatly since a global slump in oil prices, which account for 96 percent of the country's foreign revenues. The deep economic recession and soaring inflation has led to food shortages in many parts of the country, and a rekindling of protests in some areas.
Although the exact date has yet to be announced, Venezuela is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in the second half of 2015, mounting more pressure on Maduro, whose popularity has slumped according to recent opinion polls.
But Venezuela has been able to count on the tireless backing of several regional left-leaning nations, notably Cuba, Bolivia and Ecuador, that have supported Maduro's claims that the United States and a U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition are attempting to undermine and ultimately overthrow him and his government.
