The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting following the United States' seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers. Venezuela has characterized these actions as "extortion" and "piracy," while the US maintains its operations target drug trafficking.
US Operations and Stated Objectives
The United States has implemented a naval blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers associated with Venezuela. President Trump stated that any crude oil and vessels seized would be retained or sold by the US.
Approximately 15,000 US troops and naval assets, including aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships, have been deployed to the Caribbean. This deployment, described as the largest to the region since 1989, is aimed at interdicting the flow of fentanyl and cocaine.
In recent months, the US has reportedly targeted over 20 vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean, actions that have resulted in at least 90 fatalities. Some observers have indicated that these operations could potentially conflict with international laws governing armed conflict.
Venezuelan Position
During the UN Security Council meeting, Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, accused the US of engaging in "the greatest extortion" in his country's history. He stated that the US was operating outside international law and demanding that Venezuelans "vacate our country and hand it over." Moncada referred to the seizure of Venezuelan oil assets as "pillaging, looting and recolonisation," asserting that the US government lacks jurisdiction in the Caribbean. He questioned the connection between these actions and drug trafficking, particularly concerning the Venezuelan oil industry.
President Maduro, speaking from Caracas, stated that the Security Council was providing "overwhelming support" to Venezuela.
US Position
US Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, informed the Security Council that the US does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. Waltz asserted that "Maduro's ability to sell Venezuela's oil enables his fraudulent claims to power and his narco-terrorist activities."
International Reactions
Russia and China voiced criticisms of the US actions. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the UN, accused the US of "illegally destroying" civilian vessels in the Caribbean Sea and suggested these actions could establish a precedent for future use of force against Latin American states. China's envoy to the UN, Sun Lei, urged the US to "immediately halt relevant actions and avoid further escalation of tensions."