Venezuela has formally asked the U.N. Security Council to declare that recent U.S. military strikes off its coast were illegal and to issue a statement affirming Venezuela’s sovereignty, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The appeal follows a series of deadly U.S. operations in the southern Caribbean, where President Donald Trump has ordered a significant military buildup. American forces have carried out at least five strikes on vessels the Trump administration described as involved in drug trafficking, though it has not provided evidence.
In the letter, dated Wednesday, Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.N. Samuel Moncada accused Washington of killing at least 27 people in attacks on “civilian vessels transiting international waters.” He urged the council to investigate the strikes and reaffirm “the principle of unrestricted respect for the sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of states,” including Venezuela.
In Caracas, President Nicolas Maduro denounced the U.S. actions, saying no previous government had ever publicly admitted to authorizing the CIA “to kill, overthrow, and destroy countries.”
“The CIA has been authorized to conduct operations aimed against the peace of Venezuela,” Maduro said during a televised address. “But our people are clear, united, and aware. They have the means to once again defeat this open conspiracy against the peace and stability of Venezuela.”
U.S. Defends Actions Under Article 51
The Security Council is unlikely to take formal action, as the United States holds veto power. The council met for the first time on the issue last week at the request of Venezuela, Russia, and China.
During that meeting, Washington defended its actions under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which allows member states to act in self-defense against armed attacks.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said on Thursday that Trump would continue to use “the intelligence community, the defense department, and diplomacy” to protect American interests, as reported in Reuters.
“Venezuela can bring whatever they want to the U.N.,” Waltz told Fox News. “You know what’s also part of the U.N.? Article 51 of the U.N. Charter that enables a country to defend itself. And that’s what President Trump’s doing and is going to do.”
Maduro’s government has accused Washington of using claims of drug trafficking as a pretext for regime change, arguing that the U.S. aims to seize Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
