UN chief calls for respect for international law in response to Trump’s remarks

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the organization's member states to respect international law in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest remarks that he doesn't need international law.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said at a press conference on Friday that the UN chief's reaction to Trump's remarks "is to redouble his message to all member states to respect the international law they themselves created".

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UN chief calls for respect for international law in response to Trump’s remarks

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UN chief calls for respect for international law in response to Trump’s remarks

In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, Trump declared that his global power is constrained only by his "own morality", saying it's the only thing that can stop him.

When asked whether his administration needs to abide by international law, Trump said he would be the arbiter when such constraints applied to the United States.

"It depends what your definition of international law is," he said.

The New York Times report said Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his worldview. At its core is the concept that national strength, rather than laws, treaties and conventions, should be the deciding factor as powers collide.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Maduro made his first court appearance on Jan 5 in New York, during which he pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges.

Amid tensions with Venezuela, Trump has claimed the United States absolutely needs Greenland, saying he might try "hard ways" to take over the island, which has a strategically critical position and rich resources.

The latest U.S. moves have drawn worldwide condemnation for its violation of Venezuela's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and international law.

The U.S. dollar weakened in late trading on Monday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, fell 0.65 percent to 99.705 at 15:00 (1900 GMT).

In late New York trading, the euro advanced to 1.1521 dollars from 1.1440 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound added to 1.3333 dollars from 1.3245 dollars in the previous session.

The U.S. dollar bought 158.95 Japanese yen, lower than 159.61 Japanese yen in the previous session. The U.S. dollar was down to 0.7867 Swiss francs from 0.7899 Swiss francs, and it decreased to 1.3670 Canadian dollars from 1.3734 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar slipped to 9.3263 Swedish kronor from 9.4467 Swedish kronor.