International Critics Respond to US Operation Against Maduro at UN

International Criticism at the UN Following US Actions

The Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, condemned the United States operation to abduct President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, labeling it as "an illegitimate armed attack with no legal justification." This statement was supported by representatives from Cuba, Colombia, as well as permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China.

Members of the UN Security Council, including key allies of the United States, warned that this action could set a dangerous precedent for international law. During an urgent meeting held in New York, the implications of the abduction of the two were discussed, as they were slated to face drug trafficking charges in a US federal court.

Mexican Ambassador Hector Vasconcelos emphasized that the council has "an obligation to act decisively and without double standards" regarding US actions, while Denmark added that "no state should seek to influence political outcomes in Venezuela through threats of force."

Representatives from other nations, including France, condemned the US actions, arguing they contravene the principle of peaceful dispute resolution. Furthermore, the conditions in Venezuela were described as a "serious threat to the security of the region and the world" due to mass repression and corruption.

In contrast, US Ambassador Mike Waltz characterized the abduction of Maduro and his wife as a "law enforcement operation," justifying the actions under the necessity of protecting US national security.