Saint John’s, (EFE).- The United States shook the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday by threatening to withdraw from the organization, citing its “failure” to address the political crisis in Venezuela and Haiti.
United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau delivered the warning during the annual forum held in Antigua and Barbuda, representing Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a sharply worded address that questioned the organization’s relevance.
“To be honest, and I am an honest person, I don’t know how this review will end,” said Landau, referring to an internal review ordered by former United States President Donald Trump into US participation in multilateral bodies, including the OAS.
Sharp criticism over Venezuela and Haiti
Landau accused the OAS of failing to take “substantial action” against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he blamed for orchestrating a “blatant electoral fraud.”
Despite opposition claims of irregularities, Maduro was sworn in for another term, and the OAS only managed to pass a resolution requesting the release of voting records, an order never fulfilled.
“If we cannot respond to a regime that openly violates international norms and threatens the territorial integrity of its neighbor, then we must ask: what is the point of this organization?” Landau questioned, referencing Venezuela’s border tensions with Guyana.
The US also criticized the OAS for its limited role in Haiti, where gang violence and political paralysis have crippled the country.
Washington is backing a resolution urging member states to support the Kenya-led security mission endorsed by the United Nations (UN).
“America cannot continue to carry this heavy financial burden alone,” Landau said. “If the OAS is unwilling or unable to play a constructive role in Haiti, we seriously question why it exists.”
OAS reacts as US holds funding
The US is the OAS’s largest donor, providing nearly half of its annual budget. However, the Trump administration has yet to pay its 2025 dues.
The harsh rhetoric marks a significant escalation, even compared to past multilateral criticisms, and comes after Caribbean nations and left-leaning governments secured the appointment of Surinamese diplomat Albert Ramdin as Secretary General in March, an advocate of “dialogue” with Venezuela.
Landau urged member states to support Cuban dissident Rosa María Payá, Washington’s nominee for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
Payá, the daughter of deceased activist Oswaldo Payá, is a vocal critic of the Cuban government and claims her father’s 2012 death was state-orchestrated.
In response to the US position, Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia defended the OAS as the legitimate space for regional debate.
“We must strengthen the organization and the unity of the region. This is where we should be discussing the challenges we face,” she told EFE, emphasizing that both Venezuela and Haiti “must be part of the solution.”
Before adjourning on Friday, the Assembly approved maintaining the 2026 member-state contribution level at 93 million dollars and passed resolutions on mental health, Spanish Language Week, and upcoming national anniversaries in the US, Bolivia, and Uruguay. EFE
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