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Venezuela denounces US actions as 'extortion' at UN emergency session
Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations has condemned the United States for what he called the "greatest extortion" in the country's history, following the seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers off its coast earlier this month. The accusations were made during an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday.
US seizes Venezuelan oil tankers amid escalating tensions
Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's envoy to the UN, described the US seizure of the tankers as "worse than piracy" and accused Washington of "pillaging, looting, and recolonisation." The US has also indicated it is pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker, with President Donald Trump asserting that the US will retain or sell the confiscated crude oil and vessels.
Trump ordered a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela on 16 December, framing the move as part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking. The US president has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a "drugs cartel" and allowing criminal gangs to operate with impunity.
Military buildup in the Caribbean and Pacific
The US has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean and Pacific regions in recent months, deploying 15,000 troops alongside aircraft carriers and warships. This marks the largest US military deployment to the area since the 1989 invasion of Panama, with officials stating the aim is to curb the flow of fentanyl and cocaine into the US.
US forces have conducted strikes on vessels it claims are involved in drug smuggling, targeting over 20 boats and resulting in at least 100 deaths. Legal experts have raised concerns that these actions may violate international laws governing armed conflict.
International reactions and diplomatic fallout
At the UN Security Council meeting, US Ambassador Michael Waltz rejected Venezuela's accusations, stating that the US does not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Waltz argued that Maduro's control over the country's oil industry funds his "fraudulent claims to power and narco-terrorist activities."
"Maduro's ability to sell Venezuela's oil enables his fraudulent claims to power and his narco-terrorist activities,"
Michael Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN
Russia and China condemn US actions
Russia and China joined Venezuela in criticising the US, with Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accusing Washington of "illegally destroying" civilian vessels in the Caribbean. Nebenzia warned that the US actions could set a precedent for future military interventions in Latin America.
"The US actions against Venezuelan vessels are a template for future acts of force against Latin American states,"
Vassily Nebenzia, Russian Ambassador to the UN
China's envoy, Sun Lei, urged the US to "immediately halt relevant actions and avoid further escalation of tensions."
Maduro claims UN support amid crisis
During a visit to a trade fair in Caracas, President Maduro asserted that the UN Security Council was providing "overwhelming support" to Venezuela. However, the US and its allies have continued to push for increased pressure on Maduro's government, citing human rights abuses and corruption.
Moncada, Venezuela's UN ambassador, questioned the US rationale for targeting Venezuela's oil industry, asking, "What does that have to do with drugs?" He also accused the US of acting outside international law and demanding that Venezuelans "vacate our country and hand it over."
