This move has sent shockwaves across Latin America and drawn concern from the international community.
The meeting is being held under the agenda item “Threats to International Peace and Security”, following the US military action that led to Maduro’s capture and removal from Venezuelan territory. Colombia, supported by China and the Russian Federation, formally requested the emergency session.
Opening the Council’s engagement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the need for strict respect for national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. He warned ambassadors that the operation set a “dangerous precedent” for the international system and risked undermining the foundations of the UN Charter.
The briefing to Council members is being delivered by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, on behalf of the Secretary-General. Her statement is expected to outline the UN’s concerns about the escalation, its implications for regional stability and the broader consequences for international law.
The emergency meeting follows weeks of rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, marked by military manoeuvres, diplomatic standoffs and the seizure of Venezuelan-linked assets. The overnight US operation in the Venezuelan capital prompted authorities in Caracas to declare a state of national emergency, while casualty figures and the full extent of damage remain unconfirmed.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
