In brief
In an emergency meeting at the UN Security Council, Venezuela's representative condemned the US for seizing two Venezuelan oil tankers, calling it 'the greatest extortion' and 'worse than piracy.' The US plans to pursue further seizures and has increased its military presence in the region amid accusations of drug trafficking against the Venezuelan government. Responses from Russia and China criticized US actions as aggressive and unlawful.
Venezuela has accused the United States of the greatest extortion during an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York. The Venezuelan ambassador criticized the seizure of two oil tankers by Washington, describing it as worse than piracy. This emergency meeting was convened to address the US actions that occurred off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month.
Additionally, the US has indicated it is pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker. President Trump has accused Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of participating in drug trafficking activities, stating that gangs operate without consequence.
On December 16, Trump enforced a naval blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. He announced that the US would keep or sell the seized crude oil and vessels. This military buildup in the Pacific and Caribbean, involving 15,000 troops along with aircraft carriers and warships, marks the most significant deployment to the region since the 1989 Panama invasion. Officials claim these actions are aimed at curbing the flow of fentanyl and cocaine to the US.
The US has targeted over 20 Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, allegedly resulting in more than 100 fatalities during strikes. However, experts caution that these operations may contravene international laws governing warfare. Venezuela's UN envoy stated that the US is subjecting the nation to the greatest extortion in its history, denouncing the acts as pillaging and attributing them to recolonization efforts.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, responded by denying Maduro's legitimacy as Venezuela's leader and linking his ability to sell oil with narcotics activities.
The meeting witnessed support for Venezuela from Russia and China, who accused the US of aggressive bullying tactics. Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned that US actions against Venezuelan vessels could serve as a precedent for further military interventions in Latin America, while China's envoy urged the US to halt actions that escalate tensions.
During a visit to a trade fair in Caracas, President Maduro remarked that the Security Council was providing overwhelming support for Venezuela.
