ALBA was conceived by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and was created in 2004 by Venezuela and Cuba as an alternative to the US-led Free Trade Area of the Americas. ALBA includes Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Granada, Nicaragua, San Cristobal y Nieves, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela and Saint Lucia.
“We declare our opposition to the executive order issued on March 9, 2015, by the US government since this executive order is unjustified and unfair and presents a threat of interference to the principle of sovereignty and nonintervention in the internal affairs of states,” ALBA states said in a declaration published on Tuesday.
The Latin American states called on Washington to establish a dialogue with the Venezuelan government based on respect for state sovereignty and self-determination.
Relations between Washington and Caracas have worsened recently over alleged human rights violations during protests in Venezuela’s capital against the Maduro government in February of 2014.
In December 2014, US President Barack Obama approved sanctions on Venezuela, targeting several individuals allegedly responsible for human rights violations during the February 2014 protests.
