UN Security Council to Meet Over US Military Action in Venezuela

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss recent US military operations in Venezuela that reportedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, a development the UN Secretary-General has described as a “dangerous precedent.”

Diplomatic sources said the meeting was requested by Colombia with the support of Russia and China. The 15-member Security Council is scheduled to convene at 10:00 am local time under the agenda item “Threats to International Peace and Security.” Somalia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council for January, confirmed the timing of the session.

The Security Council has previously met twice, in October and December, to address rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed serious concern over the situation. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said the Secretary-General believes the US military action constitutes a dangerous precedent and stressed the need for full respect for international law, including the UN Charter. He added that Guterres is deeply concerned that fundamental rules governing the use of force may not have been respected.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would oversee Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” though he did not provide further details. In a brief interview with The New York Times, Trump described the operation as “brilliant,” praising the planning and the troops involved.

Read more: Pakistan Slams India at UNSC Over Terror Claims

Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, strongly condemned the action in a letter to the Security Council, calling it a “colonial war” aimed at dismantling Venezuela’s republican system of government. He accused the United States of violating the UN Charter, which forbids the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

The latest developments follow months of heightened US pressure on Venezuela, including naval operations targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels and expanded sanctions enforcement. Last month, US authorities intercepted two tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil as part of a broader blockade.

The situation has triggered international alarm, with several countries warning that the escalation could have serious consequences for regional and global stability.