On Friday, members of the U.N. Security Council voiced their concerns regarding the rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with Russia accusing Washington of employing a shoot-first “cowboy” approach in its attacks on purported drug boats.
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, informed the 15-member U.N. council that Venezuela had ample justification to suspect that the United States was prepared to escalate from threats to actual military action against it.
Allied nations of the U.S., including France, Greece, and Denmark, urged for de-escalation and dialogue as means to address the tensions, while also emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law.
In recent weeks, the United States has targeted several vessels that were allegedly transporting drugs off the coast of Venezuela. John Kelly, the U.S. representative at the U.N. meeting, asserted that Washington “will not waver in our action to protect our nation from narco terrorists.”
These strikes, which the Trump administration has characterized as part of a conflict with drug cartels, have raised alarms among Democratic lawmakers and prompted inquiries regarding their legality as Trump broadens the scope of presidential authority.
Nebenzia stated that Russia denounced the strikes as severe breaches of international law and human rights, remarking that “boats that people were on were simply fired upon in the high seas without a trial or investigation.” He further noted that this was executed “according to the cowboy principle of ‘shoot first’.”
“At this moment, we are being asked to retroactively accept the notion that there were criminals present on board,” he stated.
Venezuela’s representative to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, informed the U.N. assembly that, in light of the U.S. military escalation in the area and Washington’s “aggressive actions and rhetoric,” his nation is “confronting a scenario where it is reasonable to expect that an armed assault against Venezuela may occur in the very near future.”
Panama’s deputy ambassador to the U.N., Ricardo Moscoso, remarked that while his nation acknowledges the valid concerns regarding drug trafficking, piracy, and other illegal activities in regional waters, “we stress that, in addition to military measures, it is feasible to tackle this issue through coordinated and sustainable approaches.”
“Panama is of the opinion that the transnational threats confronting our region necessitate collaborative responses grounded in respect for international law and bolstered by a collective commitment to peace and stability within our hemisphere,” he articulated.
France’s deputy U.N. envoy, Jay Dharmadhikari, indicated that Paris endorses multilateral efforts to combat trafficking and enhance border security, emphasizing that this must be executed in accordance with international law, including human rights legislation, and “in this regard, states should avoid any unilateral military actions.”
