France, Nov. 13 -- France's foreign minister criticized "military operations" in the Caribbean at a G7 meeting on Tuesday, as the deployment of a US aircraft carrier strike group escalated an arms buildup in the region.

Speaking to reporters at the start of a Group of Seven gathering in Canada, top French diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot said it was crucial to avoid "instability caused by potential escalations," after Venezuela warned the US deployments could trigger a full-blown conflict.

"We have observed, with concern, military operations in the Caribbean region because they disregard international law," Barrot said, without citing specific US actions.

But the comments at the meet near Niagara Falls came after the USS Gerald R. Ford, the w...