UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supports the views of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk that the U.S. airstrikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific violate international human rights law, a UN spokesman said Friday.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN chief, made the remarks at a daily briefing from the UN headquarters in New York City, when he was asked if the UN secretary-general would issue a statement on U.S. airstrikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
"On this, the secretary-general supports the views of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volcker Turk who has made it clear that the airstrikes are in violation of International Human Rights Law. According to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, based on the information that's been available so far, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appear to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others, or otherwise, justify the use of lethal armed force against them under international law. And of course, we want to make sure that established law enforcement methods are used to deal with questions of illegal trafficking on the high seas," said Haq.
Turk said in a statement on October 31 that the United States "must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them."
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on X that U.S. forces struck another alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing three people and bringing the total number of vessels destroyed to at least 18.
UN chief supports views of U.S. airstrikes in Caribbean, Pacific violating int'l humanitarian law
UN chief supports views of U.S. airstrikes in Caribbean, Pacific violating int'l humanitarian law
Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.
"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.
He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.
"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.
"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.
Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival
