Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Saturday urged the Caribbean nations to unite against the United States and pledged to offer them oil under preferential terms for "this century and beyond."
"If we truly unite ... the Caribbean shouldn't have problems this century and beyond" with their oil needs, Chavez said at a summit of nations taking part in Venezuela's Petrocaribe oil initiative, which supplies fuel under preferential terms.
Chavez reiterated his past promises to share the country's oil wealth, saying "Venezuela puts this oil wealth at the disposition of our peoples of the Caribbean."
"We're going to share it like Christ ... It will be enough for everyone," Chavez said. He predicted oil prices would soon reach 100 U.S. dollars a barrel.
The United States remains as Venezuela's top oil buyer as Chavez has sought to diversify his clientele amid tensions with Washington.
Chavez also reinforced support to his ally Cuba, blaming the United States for trying to isolate the island.
"I swear by my mother ... if there is another one of those summits and Cuba doesn't go, Venezuela won't go to that summit either because it doesn't seem fair," Chavez said.
He hoped that Venezuela and Cuba could sit down at the same table with the United States "as equals and with respect."
Chavez created Petrocaribe in 2005 and by far, 14 countries have joined the pact.