An emergency public meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Venezuela has drawn wide international attention, with many countries, particularly those from Latin America, voicing strong opposition to U.S. military action against Venezuela.
The meeting hall of the Security Council was nearly full, as representatives from not only Council members but also several Latin American countries took the floor to express their views.
Countries including Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil made clear their opposition to armed intervention by the United States, stressing that this incident, as well as any other armed interference against a country's sovereignty, territorial integrity or institutions, must be strongly condemned.
"Brazil categorically and firmly rejects the armed intervention in Venezuelan territory in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of international law. The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president crossed an unacceptable line. These acts constitute a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," said Sergio Franca Danese, Brazil's permanent representative to the UN.
"The mechanisms established globally to maintain peace, such as the UN Security Council and the United Nations as well as other multilateral institutions, were created aiming to preserve world peace. Any unilateral action by a state must not undermine another country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, the Charter of the United Nations, or international humanitarian law. Therefore, disputes or conflicts should not be resolved through military action or aggression against another country. This is unacceptable," said Leonor Zalabata, Colombia's permanent representative to the UN.
Apart from a very small number of countries, the international community has made its bottom line clear: engagement with Venezuela must take place strictly within the framework of existing international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The United Nations has also strongly urged all countries to fulfill the international legal obligations they have voluntarily undertaken.
Latin American countries strongly condemn US military action against Venezuela
