Venezuela receives support from allies Russia and China, while other council members urged for de-escalation 

The United States and Venezuela engaged in a tense confrontation at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Friday, following deadly US military strikes on four boats Washington alleges were carrying drugs. Venezuela requested the meeting, accusing the Trump administration of seeking to topple President Nicolás Maduro and threatening regional and international stability. 

The US, which reported 21 fatalities in the strikes, justified its actions as part of a campaign to "eradicate these drug cartels." The operations followed a significant buildup of US maritime forces in the Caribbean.

Venezuela anticipates “armed attack”

Venezuela’s UN Ambassador, Samuel Moncada, warned the council that the US’s “belligerent action and rhetoric” made it rational to anticipate a very short-term “armed attack” against the country. 

Moncada urged the council to find a threat to international peace and security and adopt measures to prevent the situation from escalating. He also called for a resolution committing all members, including the US, to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  Venezuela received support from allies Russia and China, while other council members urged for de-escalation and adherence to the UN Charter.

US vows to use full migh against cartels

Neither the US Ambassador nor his deputy attended the meeting. US Political Counsellor John Kelley delivered the Trump administration’s justification, vowing to use the “full might of the United States” to confront and eradicate drug cartels regardless of their location. 

Kelley asserted that the US had reached a point “where we must use force in self-defence and defence of others,” classifying the US as being in a “non-international armed conflict” with the cartels. He reiterated that the US does not recognise Maduro’s government, repeating President Trump’s previous claim that Maduro is a “narcoterrorist,” an accusation the Maduro government denies.

International calls for restraint

Despite Venezuela’s pleas, the Security Council is unlikely to take action due to the US’s veto power. France’s deputy UN ambassador called for the fight against drug trafficking to respect international human rights law and for states to “refrain from any unilateral armed initiative action.” 

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia characterised the situation as “becoming more acute,” with large-scale US military activity off Venezuela’s coast posing a threat to international peace.   and security.  The emergency meeting was convened just a day after the United States Senate voted down legislation that would have constrained President Trump’s ability to use deadly military force against drug traffickers.