International Fallout After US Operation in Venezuela

Wed Jan 07 2026 12:32:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.N. Security Council convenes emergency meeting following a controversial US operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, leading to widespread condemnation and concerns over international law violations.

The U.N. Security Council met in an emergency session to address the implications of a US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern regarding potential violations of international law, while representatives from various countries criticized the actions as reminiscent of historical interventions. US officials defended the operation as a necessary enforcement measure against narco-terrorism, setting the stage for a heated debate over sovereignty and intervention policies.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council convened following a bold U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro this past weekend. The operation has raised serious concerns regarding potential violations of international law.

At the meeting, both allies and adversaries expressed their outrage over President Donald Trump’s intervention, which has also hinted at possible military actions in neighboring countries like Colombia and Mexico due to alleged drug trafficking.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated his deep concern regarding the military actions taken by the U.S. on January 3, marking it as a potential breach of international laws governing state sovereignty and military intervention.

Trump’s administration has faced backlash not only from the U.N. but also from other nations. Denmark, a NATO ally with ties to the mineral-rich territory of Greenland, reinforced that national borders should remain inviolable.

“No state should seek to influence political outcomes in Venezuela through the use of threat of force or means inconsistent with international law,” asserted Christina Markus Lassen, Denmark's ambassador to the U.N.

Colombian Ambassador Leonor Zalabata warned that the operation echoed historical foreign interventions that destabilized the region. She argued that democracy cannot be defended through violence or economic coercion.

Russia's ambassador called U.S. actions a regression to a period of lawlessness, emphasizing the need to respect sovereignty.

In stark contrast, U.S. envoy Mike Waltz defended the operation as a surgical law enforcement action aimed at tackling narco-terrorism, arguing that Maduro's participation in such activities warranted intervention.

The U.S. action came after months of military buildup near Venezuela’s shores, with Trump asserting intentions to utilize the country’s oil reserves for U.S. interests.

As tensions escalate, international discourse on interventionism, sovereignty, and human rights remains at a critical juncture.