The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday to address a "crime of aggression" committed by the United States against Venezuela, following President Donald Trump's authorization of deadly strikes and the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
Criticism poured in from around the world as countries such as Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Spain denounced Trump's actions, describing them as a "serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela" and an "unacceptable line crossed".
Brazilian Ambassador Sérgio França Danese called on the UN Security Council to reject the methods employed by US military foreign policy. China's representative Fu Cong condemned the US for "wantonly trampling upon Venezuela's sovereignty," stating that no country can act as a world police. Russia and South Africa also joined in denouncing the US actions, calling for their immediate release.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of possible intensification of instability in Venezuela, while urging Venezuelan actors to engage in "inclusive and democratic dialogue" and offering support for peaceful ways forward.
Colombia requested the meeting, which was seen as a carefully calibrated rebuke of Washington. The US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Trump's actions as legitimate law enforcement measures against an "illegitimate" leader. However, most countries rejected this justification, viewing it as a form of war without clear self-defense justification.
Criticism poured in from around the world as countries such as Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Spain denounced Trump's actions, describing them as a "serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela" and an "unacceptable line crossed".
Brazilian Ambassador Sérgio França Danese called on the UN Security Council to reject the methods employed by US military foreign policy. China's representative Fu Cong condemned the US for "wantonly trampling upon Venezuela's sovereignty," stating that no country can act as a world police. Russia and South Africa also joined in denouncing the US actions, calling for their immediate release.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of possible intensification of instability in Venezuela, while urging Venezuelan actors to engage in "inclusive and democratic dialogue" and offering support for peaceful ways forward.
Colombia requested the meeting, which was seen as a carefully calibrated rebuke of Washington. The US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Trump's actions as legitimate law enforcement measures against an "illegitimate" leader. However, most countries rejected this justification, viewing it as a form of war without clear self-defense justification.
it seems like we're just accepting this new normal where one country can just do whatever they want and expect everyone else to roll over. i mean, trump's actions in venezuela were a serious escalation, but did we really think that's justifiable? is it okay for us to impose our own brand of order on other countries without even trying to understand their perspectives?
but seriously though who does trump think he is? Venezuela is like their own backyard or something 
and then they have the nerve to call it a "crime of aggression"? give me a break 
This whole situation is just a reminder that power and influence come with great responsibility 
. The US actions in Venezuela are like a mirror held up to the world - it's showing us how easily we can get caught up in the heat of the moment and make decisions without thinking through the consequences 
.
. If countries can't work together to resolve conflicts peacefully, who will? The UN Security Council is like a referee trying to keep everyone from going off the deep end, but it seems like they're still learning how to do that effectively 
.
It's easy to say "it's just law enforcement measures" when we're the ones doing the enforcing. The world is complex and messy, and sometimes there's no easy answer 
. But that's exactly why we need to listen to each other and try to understand different perspectives 
.
The fact that Trump authorized those deadly strikes is mind-blowing. What if he'd done that in someone else's backyard? The world would be in a total mess.
And what's with the 'legitimate law enforcement measures' excuse? It sounds like a total cop-out to me.
Can we please have some calm discussion about this instead of all the yelling? 
The US is basically acting like a global enforcer or something, and it's making everyone super uncomfortable. I mean, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba... they're all saying the same thing: this is a serious affront to Venezuela's sovereignty. 
Where's the proof? 
This whole thing is super sketchy! I mean, who does the US think they are? Kidnapping the President and calling it law enforcement? 
the way the US just swooped in and took their president is crazy. It's like they think they can just do whatever they want and nobody will stop them 
The UN needs to do something about it ASAP 
. First, they're kidnapping Maduro and his wife, that's not just any kidnapping, it's a serious breach of human rights, you know? And then they have the nerve to call it "legitimate law enforcement measures"? 
Those countries that are talking back to the US, they're onto something. We need to be aware of the strings being pulled and not get caught up in their games. This whole situation is like a game of chess, but we can't see the board, let alone the pieces moving on it 
. But nope, just more hot air from the US government trying to justify their actions 
.
. It's time for the world to stand up to the US and tell them that their way of doing things isn't acceptable anymore 
. We need more inclusive and democratic dialogue, not just US-style military intervention 
What's going on with the US justifying it as "law enforcement measures"? 