UN Security Council Condemns Venezuelas President Maduro Abduction

UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting Over Venezuelan President’s Abduction

A meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council was held in New York City on Monday to address the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by US special forces. The council, which includes key US allies such as Mexico and Denmark, expressed concerns that the operation may have violated international law.

Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, stated that the US operation was an “illegitimate armed attack lacking any legal justification.” Cuba’s ambassador, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, echoed this sentiment, saying that the US is imposing its laws outside its own territory and far from its coasts. Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, also criticized the US, stating that it cannot unilaterally decide to invade any country or impose punishments without adhering to international law.

Mexico’s ambassador, Hector Vasconcelos, emphasized the need for the council to act decisively and without double standards towards the US. Denmark’s ambassador, Christina Markus Lassen, noted that “no state should seek to influence political outcomes in Venezuela through the use of threat of force or other means inconsistent with international law.” France also criticized the US, citing concerns about the principle of peaceful dispute resolution.

Representatives from Latvia and the United Kingdom focused on the conditions in Venezuela created by Maduro’s government, describing them as a “grave threat to the security of the region and the world.” The US ambassador, Mike Waltz, characterized the operation as a “surgical law enforcement operation” aimed at two indicted fugitives. The White House defended its actions, stating that they were necessary to protect US national security.

The council’s response to the abduction highlights the differing views among member states on the legitimacy of the US operation and its implications for international law.

Source: Al Jazeera