TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting on Monday (Jan. 5) following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States on Saturday. U.S. allies and adversaries convened at the council, criticizing Washington's actions to varying degrees amid growing international concern over the operation. The emergency session highlighted deep divisions among world powers over the legality and implications of the U.S. military action.
President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One, emphasized the U.S. stance by stating that this is "their hemisphere" and underscoring the importance of national security. French President Emmanuel Macron supported the arrest, but France's ambassador to the U.N. stressed that any breach of international law by the five permanent Security Council members undermines the international order. The French envoy stated that the military action against Maduro violated principles of peaceful dispute resolution and non-use of force.
China and Russia condemned the United States for disregarding international law and infringing on Venezuela's sovereignty in strong statements at the Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Michael Waltz defended the action as an enforcement operation targeting Maduro's alleged crimes. Waltz stated that the arrest aimed to bring Maduro to trial in the United States for his alleged crimes over the past 15 years.
Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N. Sun Lei (孫磊) urged the United States to ensure the safety of Maduro and his wife and called for their immediate release. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the military operation's disregard for international law. Guterres warned that the action might set a dangerous precedent for future international relations, raising questions about the rules-based global order. ◼