UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern on Monday about more instability in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. However, their President Donald Trump has said he has no intention of occupying the Latin American country.
The 15-member UN Security Council met at the organisation's headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro appeared in federal court in Manhattan, where he faces charges of drug crimes, including conspiracy to commit terrorism. Maduro, however, denied any criminal activity in court and, along with his wife, proclaimed their innocence.
"I am deeply concerned about the potential exacerbation of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent this may set for state-to-state relations," Guterres was overheard saying in a statement delivered to the council by UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo.
Waltz: We are not occupying any country
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told the Security Council that the United States had carried out "a surgical law enforcement operation, facilitated by the U.S. military, against two accused fugitives from U.S. justice," referring to Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
"As Secretary Rubio said, we are not waging war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying any country," Waltz stressed as he presented the U.S. case against Maduro to the Security Council.
"You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of enemies of the United States, under the control of illegitimate leaders, without benefit to the Venezuelan people," the US ambassador also emphasised.
Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, on the other hand, described the US operation to capture Maduro as "an illegitimate armed attack without any legal justification". Before the UN, Moncada stated that Venezuelan institutions are functioning normally, constitutional order is maintained and the state exercises effective control over its entire territory.
In response, Guterres called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive and democratic dialogue. " I welcome and stand ready to support all efforts aimed at helping the Venezuelan people to find a peaceful solution," he added.
Guterres: I am concerned that the US operation was not in accordance with international law
The UN secretary-general also expressed concern that Saturday's US operation to capture Maduro in Caracas was not in line with the rules of international law. Indeed, the UN Charter states that members 'shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State'.
However, the United States invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, which states that nothing 'shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack is made against a member of the United Nations'.
Russia, China and Colombia condemn the operation
Russia, China and Colombia condemned the US military operation as illegal. Most other Council members did not directly criticise the United States, but instead stressed the importance of respecting international law and the UN Charter.
"The incomprehensible mumblings and attempts to avoid substantive assessments by those who, in other circumstances, foam and demand that others respect the UN Charter appear particularly hypocritical and inappropriate at this time," Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, stressed, adding that Russia was condemned by the UN for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
China compared the situation to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"The lessons of history are a clear warning. Military means are not the solution to problems, and indiscriminate use of force will only lead to bigger crises," said Sun Lei, chargé d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Colombia, which requested Monday's meeting, condemned the US operation as a clear violation of Venezuela's sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. Russia, China and Venezuela have therefore called on the United States to release Maduro and his wife.
However, the United States cannot be held responsible for such a violation before the UN Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Indeed, the US, along with Russia, China, the UK and France, has veto power, so that it can block any action.
(reuters)