Facing criticism from friends and rivals alike at the United Nations Security Council, the United States on Monday defended the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as a law enforcement action, not an act of war.
At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Washington rejected claims that it had violated international law by seizing Maduro from a fortified military base in Venezuela. US officials said there was no invasion and no occupation.
“There is no war against Venezuela or its people,” US Permanent Representative Mike Walz told the Council, quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said the operation was aimed at arresting a suspected narcotrafficker, not toppling a state.
According to the US, Maduro has been taken into custody to face narco-terrorism charges and will be tried in accordance with American law. His first court appearance took place in Manhattan, close to UN headquarters, as the Council debate was still underway.
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Divided Council, uneasy allies
France and Britain, both close US allies and permanent members of the Council, criticised Maduro’s record while also questioning the legality of Washington’s move. They said concerns about human rights and disputed elections did not justify the use of force.
France’s Deputy Permanent Representative Jay Dharmadhikari said the military operation that led to Maduro’s capture went against principles of peaceful dispute resolution. Britain’s Deputy Permanent Representative James Kariuki warned that violations of the UN Charter by powerful states weaken the international order.
China and Russia were far more blunt. Beijing said it was “deeply shocked” by what it called US bullying, while Moscow demanded Maduro’s immediate release, insisting he was Venezuela’s legitimate president. Russia accused Washington of reviving neocolonial and imperial practices.
Latin America reacts, US finds few backers
Venezuela’s envoy to the UN accused the US of kidnapping a head of state and carrying out an armed attack in breach of the UN Charter. He said the action was driven by Washington’s interest in Venezuela’s natural resources.
Only two Council members, Trinidad and Argentina, offered unqualified support to the US. Trinidad’s representative said his country backed US-led efforts to counter transnational crime networks linked to Venezuela. Argentina called the operation decisive in tackling drug trafficking in the region.
Elsewhere in Latin America, concern was widespread. Colombia strongly condemned the US move, calling it one of the worst cases of interference in the region. Mexico warned against double standards when international law is breached.
Briefing the Council, a senior UN official, Rosemary DiCarlo, said the Secretary-General was deeply worried about rising instability in Venezuela and the wider region. She cautioned that the episode could set a troubling precedent for how states deal with one another.