Venezuela has accused the United States of the 'greatest extortion' at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York. Washington's seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers was 'worse than piracy,' according to the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN.
The emergency meeting was convened to address the U.S. actions concerning the tankers, seized earlier this month off Venezuela's coast, with Washington indicating it was also pursuing a third vessel.
President Trump has labeled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the leader of a drugs cartel, claiming gangs have operated without consequence for too long.
On December 16, Trump initiated a naval blockade against sanctioned oil tankers either entering or leaving Venezuela. He announced that the U.S. intends to retain or sell the seized crude oil and tankers.
The U.S. military has notably increased its presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas, deploying 15,000 troops and various aircraft as part of the largest military build-up in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama, purportedly to combat fentanyl and cocaine trafficking.
In remarks during the UN session, Venezuelan envoy Samuel Moncada accused the U.S. of pillaging Venezuela’s resources, stating, 'We are in the presence of a power that acts outside of international law.' He emphasized that the U.S. lacks jurisdiction over Caribbean affairs.
In response, U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz asserted that the U.S. does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader and accused him of exploiting oil revenues to sustain his regime and narcotic-related activities.
The international community’s response has been critical as both Russia and China condemned U.S. actions as aggressive and warned of potential implications for regional stability.
