New York: The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency meeting on Monday to deliberate on the recent US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
According to the Security Council presidency, the meeting will take place at 10 am local time under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security.” Somalia, which holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member Council for January, confirmed the timing of the session through its permanent mission to the United Nations.
The emergency meeting was sought after concerns were raised by several countries over the US action in Venezuela. Colombian President Gustavo Petro was among the first leaders to publicly call for an urgent Security Council discussion, rejecting what he described as an attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty and warning against external military intervention in Latin America.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, during which Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of the country. Trump later shared images on social media platforms showing Maduro in US custody, including visuals aboard a US naval vessel. Additional video footage released by US authorities showed Maduro in handcuffs during his transfer.
The developments prompted a response from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed deep concern over the situation. In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Guterres warned that such actions could have serious consequences for regional stability and stressed the importance of upholding international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
In the aftermath of Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Court moved to address the leadership vacuum by directing Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting president. The court stated that Maduro was in a “material and temporary impossibility” to perform his duties, according to reports.
The emergency UNSC meeting is expected to witness sharp divisions among member states as global reactions continue to pour in over the unfolding crisis in Venezuela.
