He told the Council: “The proliferation of violations of the Charter of the UN and the violations of international law by states vested with responsibility as permanent members of Security Council chips away at the very foundation of the international order, contravening the principles of the charter, including the principle of respect for independence and territorial integrity of states, undermines the foundation of the UN and weakens international peace and security.”
The deputy UN ambassador for Denmark, Sandra Jensen Landi, voiced her country’s “deep concern” at the evolving situation and said: “These developments constitute a dangerous precedent. International law and the UN Charter… must be respected.”
Both these statements – by France and Denmark – represent a significant stiffening of European criticism of the seizing of Maduro after some initial equivocation by many EU members. In contrast, both UK and Greek diplomats at the UN did not condemn the US military operation.
The ambassador for Panama, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, expressed concern about US plans to work with the existing regime, without involving the opposition or holding fresh elections.
He told the Council: “Any attempt to establish a permanent government headed by a figure from the repressive apparatus such as Delcy Rodriguez would constitute continuity of the system and not a genuine transition.”
Colombia’s ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres said there is no justification for the unilateral use of force to commit an act of aggression: “Such actions constitute a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter.”
Russia’s ambassador, Vassili Nebenzia, accused the US of “international banditry” and “neo-colonialism and imperialism”.
He said there was no justification for “US domination by force” and accused US allies of hypocrisy and double standards for failing to criticise Trump.
China’s Chargé d’Affaires, Sun Lei, said Beijing was “deeply shocked and strongly condemned” what he called the “unilateral, illegal and bullying acts of the US”.
In a statement read out on his behalf, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, said he remained “deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected” during the US action: “The power of the law must prevail.”
By contrast, the acting UK ambassador, James Kariuki, gave a very brief statement, saying merely the UK wanted to see a “safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people”.
He added, without being specific, that the UK “reaffirms its commitment to international law and the principles enshrined in the charter of the UN”. Greece’s deputy ambassador, Ioannis Stamatekos, also failed to condemn Trump’s seizure of Maduro, calling instead for “dialogue and diplomacy” to resolve the crisis.
For the US, UN ambassador Mike Waltz said the capture of Maduro was a law-enforcement operation against an illegitimate leader responsible for both drug trafficking and terrorism.
“You can’t turn Venezuela into the operating hub for Iran, for Hezbollah, for gangs, for the Cuban intelligence agents and other malign actors that control that country,” Waltz told the Council. “You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the US.”
