Emergency UNSC session turns hostile after US military operation in Venezuela
A furious diplomatic confrontation unfolded at the United Nations as Russia and China launched a blistering attack on the United States, accusing Washington of committing crimes and violating international law in Venezuela. The emergency UN Security Council session exposed deep global fractures following the US-led military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
UN Security Council Erupts
The atmosphere inside the Security Council chamber turned tense as Moscow and Beijing openly challenged American authority. Both powers described the US action as reckless, unlawful, and destabilising.
They warned that the operation marked a dangerous return to force-driven global politics, where might replaces law and sovereignty becomes optional.
Russia: ‘No Justification for Crimes’
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya delivered one of the strongest condemnations heard at the Council in recent years. He declared that the US intervention had no legal or moral justification.
Nebenzya said the capture and transfer of Venezuela’s sitting president crossed red lines. He warned that such actions shatter international norms and revive an era of domination by force.
According to Russia, the operation represents a direct assault on state sovereignty and a violation of the UN Charter.
China: ‘Illegal and Bullying Behaviour’
China echoed Moscow’s outrage with equal force. Deputy Permanent Representative Geng Shuang said Beijing was “deeply shocked” by Washington’s conduct.
He labelled the operation illegal, coercive, and bullying, stating that it undermines the very foundations of the international system. China stressed that non-interference is not optional, but a core principle of global stability.
Beijing joined Russia in demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
A World Divided
The sharp language revealed a rapidly polarising world order. While Washington defended its actions as necessary, critics warned that the precedent could justify future interventions anywhere.
Several diplomats privately expressed concern that the crisis could paralyse the Security Council and weaken already fragile global governance mechanisms.
Analysis: Power Politics Return to the Fore
The Venezuela episode has become more than a regional crisis. It is now a symbol of an escalating struggle between unilateral power and multilateral law.
With major powers openly clashing, the risk of broader instability is rising. The UN, once again, stands at a crossroads.