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UN Security Council convenes emergency session over Maduro seizure
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday saw widespread condemnation of the United States' military operation to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with allies and adversaries alike denouncing the move as a violation of international law.
Global backlash over sovereignty breach
Member states, including close U.S. partners, criticized the operation as a dangerous overreach that undermines the UN Charter. France's deputy ambassador, Jay Dharmadhikari, warned that the action "runs counter to the principle of peaceful dispute resolution and the non-use of force," eroding the foundation of the international order.
Denmark's deputy UN ambassador, Sandra Jensen Landi, echoed these concerns, calling the developments a "dangerous precedent" that flouts the UN Charter. Both statements marked a sharp escalation in European criticism after initial hesitation from several EU nations.
Divided responses among U.S. allies
While France and Denmark took firm stances, other European nations avoided direct condemnation. The UK's acting ambassador, James Kariuki, urged a "safe and peaceful transition" to a legitimate Venezuelan government but stopped short of labeling the U.S. action illegal. Greece's deputy ambassador, Ioannis Stamatekos, similarly called for "dialogue and diplomacy" without addressing the legality of the seizure.
Panama's ambassador, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, expressed skepticism about U.S. plans to collaborate with Maduro's regime, warning that installing figures like Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would perpetuate the existing system rather than enable genuine democratic change.
Latin America and adversaries unite in opposition
Colombia's ambassador, Leonor Zalabata Torres, condemned the operation as an "act of aggression" and a "serious violation of international law." Russia's envoy, Vassili Nebenzia, accused the U.S. of "international banditry" and "neo-colonialism," while China's Chargé d'Affaires, Sun Lei, called the move "unilateral, illegal, and bullying."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a statement read by an aide, expressed deep concern that "rules of international law have not been respected," emphasizing that "the power of the law must prevail."
U.S. defends operation as law enforcement
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz framed Maduro's detention as a law-enforcement action targeting an illegitimate leader linked to drug trafficking and terrorism. He argued that Venezuela had become a hub for "Iran, Hezbollah, gangs, and Cuban intelligence agents," posing a threat to U.S. security.
"You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the U.S.," Waltz told the Council.
Europe's diplomatic dilemma
European leaders face a balancing act between upholding international law and maintaining relations with Washington. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to judge the legality of the operation, stating only that "international law is the benchmark against which we judge the actions of all governments."
The European Union issued a cautious statement reaffirming the need to uphold the UN Charter but avoided directly criticizing the U.S. The bloc had previously deemed Maduro illegitimate and his drug trafficking a global security threat, yet it remained silent on President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. would now "run" Venezuela.
Spain, however, joined France and Denmark in rejecting the intervention. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared his government would "not recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward uncertainty and belligerence."
Long-term implications for global order
The operation has reignited debates over Western military interventions, with developing nations drawing parallels to past U.S. actions in Iraq and Vietnam. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk seized on the moment to urge European unity, tweeting: "No-one will take seriously a weak and divided Europe: neither enemy nor ally." He called for greater defense autonomy, warning that disunity would leave the continent vulnerable.
The crisis may accelerate Europe's push for strategic independence amid concerns about U.S. reliability. As one diplomat noted, the question now is whether the continent will "take greater responsibility for its own security" in an era of shifting alliances.
