Representatives of the United Nations Security Council assembled today in New York City after the government in Caracas called for an emergency meeting last week, due to “escalatory actions” by the United States in the South Caribbean.
Ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro have led to the U.S. seizure of multiple oil tankers off the Venezuelan coast, including one tanker currently being pursued and reportedly owned by an Iranian merchant, sailing under a “false flag”, according to U.S. officials.
Venezuela
The regime in Caracas has called these actions by the U.S. military “piracy” and a “violation of international law”, urging that the U.N. Security Council call for an emergency session in an effort to uphold “dialogue and diplomacy” between the two governments.
“The belligerent action and rhetoric of the U.S. government objectively point to the fact that we are facing a situation in which it is rational to anticipate that in the very short term, an armed attack is to be perpetrated against Venezuela”, Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada said.
Moncada also accused the U.S. of pursuing its past colonial aggressions in the region, vowing not to “lose their composure” as the Venezuelan government prepares for intervention by the U.S. military.
United States
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz stated that the “United States does not recognize Nicolás Maduro, or its cronies as the legitimate government of Venezuela”, adding that “Nicolás Maduro is a fugitive from American justice and the head of the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)–Cartel de Los Soles.”
In November, the Trump administration declared the criminal drug trafficking organization as such in November, allowing the U.S. military additional flexibility to curtail the organization’s influence in the region, which the U.S. says is involved in the wholesale trafficking of illicit narcotics and human smuggling operations to the United States.
The U.S. Secretary of State under Marco Rubio has accused top officials of the Maduro government and high-ranking members of the Venezuelan Armed Forces of running the organization and using the proceeds from the sale of sanctioned oil to further the organization’s aims.
Waltz also claims that Maduro and his regime “stole the election and the international community has the receipts”, referring to the controversial presidential election in July 2024 in which Maduro squeezed through another election victory, but was later condemned by the international community for allegations of widespread fraud and abuse.
Ambassador Waltz followed up by reiterating the intentions of the U.S. Trump administration, stating:
“President Trump has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of the United States of America, the full might of the United States, to take on and eradicate these drug cartels which have operated with impunity for far too long.”
Russia
Both the Russian and Chinese governments have come out to publicly support Venezuela in the face of mounting U.S. pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently called Maduro directly to reaffirm Russia's commitment to Venezuelan sovereignty.
According to officials at the Kremlin, “Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and confirmed his support for the Maduro government’s policy aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure”, previously reported by Sociedad Media.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that Venezuela has been subjected to “unprecedented pressure and threats of military invasion.”
“Every day”, he continued, “the situation is becoming more acute”, as the United States deploys the largest array of military assets in the region’s history.
Nebenzia also stated that the Russian government “strongly condemns” the “U.S. seizure of oil tankers” in the region, warning:
“This unfolding intervention could become a template for future forceful actions against Latin American states in accordance with the so-called Trump amendment to the Monroe Doctrine, enshrined in the recently published US national security strategy.”
China
The Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations from the People’s Republic of China, Sun Lei, also followed suit in denouncing recent U.S. actions in the South Caribbean and adopting a firm stance in support of Venezuelan sovereignty in the face of a potential U.S. intervention.
Sun Lei also reiterated that his country firmly opposes all acts of “unilateralism and bullying” carried out by Washington, including any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the South American nation.
“All countries must defend their sovereign dignity. We are against any measure that violates the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter”, Shuang stated.
