UN chief seriously concerned about ‘possible intensification of instability’ in Venezuela

In a statement by Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, António Guterres said the Council met “at a serious moment” following the January 3 US military action in Venezuela.

The broad strokes of the operation, which spanned Caracas and the northern states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, have been widely reported, although the scale of casualties remains unclear.

US President Donald Trump announced a “major strike” and extradition of his Venezuelan counterpart on Saturday, later declaring that the US would now “run the country” until a transition could be secured.

Venezuela has characterized the operation as blatant military aggression and a blatant violation of the UN Charterthat pose a threat to international and regional peace and security.

President Maduro is being held in New York and will appear in court on Monday – just a few miles south of the UN headquarters in Manhattan – accused by US authorities, along with his wife Cilia Flores, of serious drug and weapons crimes.

Venezuela’s future is at stake

“What is less certain is Venezuela’s immediate future,” the secretary general said, warning of the risk of that increasing instability, regional repercussions and a dangerous precedent for interstate relations.

He stressed that respect for international law must remain the guiding principle, and expressed concern that the rules on the use of force “were not respected” during the January 3 military action.

The UN Charter, he recalled, explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

“The maintenance of international peace and security depends on the continued commitment of all Member States to comply with all provisions of the Charter,he said.

Call for an inclusive, democratic dialogue

The UN chief noted that Venezuela has endured decades of internal instability and social and economic unrest, undermining democracy and forcing millions of people to flee.

Although he described the current situation as critical, he said it was still possible to prevent a “wider and more destructive fire”.

He called on all Venezuelan actors to participate in an inclusive dialogue that enables all sectors of society to determine their future, based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the people.

Stick to principles

“In situations as confused and complex as the one we face now, it is important to stick to principles,the Secretary-General said, underlining respect for the UN Charter, sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity, and the prohibition on the use of force.

“The power of the law must prevail,he said, emphasizing that international law provides tools to address issues ranging from human rights concerns to illegal trade and resource disputes – and that this is “the route we must take.”