ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – The Venezuelan Ambassador to Dominica, Jose Durabio Moros Savelli, is urging Caribbean countries to unite in opposing the military buildup by the United States in waters off the South American country, saying that it is important for preserving peace in the Caribbean.

Washington has been deploying military hardware into the area, alleging that Caracas and its leaders were involved in the illegal narcotics trade.

On Thursday, the US said it had seized survivors following a strike on a suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, the first since US President Donald Trump began launching deadly attacks in the region.

While Washington has not made any public announcement of the arrests, the strike is believed to be at least the sixth strike since August, and the first to result in survivors who were picked up by the US military.

It was not immediately clear what would be done with the individuals.

“We should fully preserve the peace in the region…it is not just about Venezuela if the United States start a war in the Caribbean, it will be bad for all of us, our economy, our people,” Savelli said.

He said that the US would use nuclear weapons, and it would go through the whole region, destroying everything.

“So just the fact that nuclear submarines have been brought into our waters nuclear submarines should be worrying,” he said, noting that Caribbean countries with a policy of respect for fundamental principles and international law…should make sure there is no war in the Caribbean”.

He said that international public opinion is also important “so that the United States government and people know that people are concerned and we do not want no war”.

“We need to full the social media with requirements for peace in the Caribbean”, the Venezuelan diplomat added.

The strike by the US on Thursday brings the death toll from the Trump administration’s military action against vessels in the region to at least 28.

Last month, President Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea, ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also been allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.