The legality of the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will top the United Nations Security Council agenda on Monday, though Washington is not expected to face strong condemnation from its traditional allies.
The 15-member Council convenes following Saturday’s operation by U.S. special forces, which involved airstrikes on military installations, caused power outages in parts of Caracas, and, according to Venezuelan authorities, resulted in numerous fatalities. Maduro is now detained in New York, awaiting trial on U.S. drug-related charges.
While Russia, China, and several of Venezuela’s allies have denounced the operation as a flagrant violation of international law, the reaction from U.S. allies has been notably restrained. Many have issued generic calls for respect for international law without directly condemning the use of force.
“The reactions of European leaders suggest that U.S. allies will seek political maneuvering within the Security Council to avoid a direct confrontation with Washington,” said Richard Gowan, director of international issues at the International Crisis Group.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through a spokesperson, labeled the U.S. action a “dangerous precedent.” Independent legal experts have also argued the operation lacks legal legitimacy, though the U.S. is positioned to block any formal Council move to hold it accountable.
In the wake of the operation, most European nations carefully called for adherence to international law without explicitly naming the United States. A notable exception was French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who stated Washington had violated the “fundamental principle of the non-use of force.”
Source: agencies+Reuters