Calls for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting are mounting following the United States military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Saturday strikes have triggered diplomatic alarm worldwide, with multiple nations demanding urgent multilateral discussion of the sovereignty violation and its implications.
The potential Security Council meeting would force a direct confrontation between the United States and other permanent members including China and Russia, both of which have strongly condemned the operation. The session could become a forum for broader debate about the future of international law and whether established norms can constrain unilateral military action.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has already warned of dangerous precedents through his spokesperson, emphasizing deep concern that international legal rules have not been respected. An emergency Security Council session would provide a formal mechanism for member states to address these concerns and potentially demand action.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international response has been characterized by widespread condemnation from major powers and international organizations, with European leaders calling for respect of international law. Latin American reactions have split along ideological lines, with Colombia mobilizing its armed forces in anticipation of refugee flows and progressive governments warning that the operation undermines multilateral cooperation and creates dangerous instability.