UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting Over U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela

 UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting Over U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela The United Nations Security Council convened an emerg...

 UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting Over U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on January 5, 2026, to address the recent U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The meeting was requested primarily by Colombia, with strong support from Russia and China, following the U.S.-led strikes and raid in Caracas on January 3. Diplomats highlighted concerns over sovereignty violations, with multiple nations, including adversaries and some allies of the United States, condemning the action as a breach of international law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm, stating that the operation sets a "dangerous precedent" and risks escalating regional instability.

During the session, Russia and China led sharp criticisms, labeling the U.S. intervention an act of aggression and demanding the immediate release of Maduro. Venezuela's UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada described the raid as an "illegitimate armed attack" involving the "kidnapping" of the country's constitutional leader. Guterres, in a statement read to the council, voiced deep concern over the lack of respect for international law, including the UN Charter's prohibitions on the use of force against a state's territorial integrity. He urged all parties to prioritize diplomatic dialogue to prevent further escalation and broader regional impacts.

The United States defended the operation as a "surgical law-enforcement action" to execute long-standing indictments against Maduro on charges including narco-terrorism, insisting it was not an act of war or occupation. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz emphasized that the mission targeted an "illegitimate" leader and drew parallels to historical precedents. However, even some U.S. allies, such as France, expressed reservations, warning that such unilateral actions erode the foundations of the international order. No resolution was adopted, as expected given U.S. veto power, leaving the crisis unresolved amid ongoing global tensions.

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