Thu, September 17, 2026
New York (Web Desk): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed serious concern over the escalation between the United States and Venezuela, which reached a peak on Saturday morning with the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US special forces.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed being "deeply alarmed" by the military intervention, stressing that the US operation has the potential to destabilize the region and escalate tensions further.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on social media, announcing that President Maduro and his wife would face trial on US soil following a 2020 narcoterrorism indictment. According to US authorities, the operation began with airstrikes around Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Venezuela has since declared a national state of emergency, though the exact toll and damage from the attack remain unclear.
The Venezuelan government condemned the US action as "extremely serious military aggression," marking the culmination of months of rising tensions, including an increasing military build-up off Venezuela’s coast and attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats.
In recent weeks, the US had also seized oil tankers under sanction and threatened further military intervention to force Maduro from power.
The UN spokesperson reiterated that the Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the violation of international law, emphasizing the necessity for all parties to respect the UN Charter. Guterres called for dialogue and urged that human rights and international legal norms be upheld in addressing the crisis.
The UN's Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Turk, also voiced concerns, urging restraint and adherence to international law. He emphasized that protecting the people of Venezuela must be the priority in any further actions.
Venezuela has requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York to discuss the situation.
In a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate, President Trump stated that the US would "run Venezuela" until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition" of power could occur. He also added that US oil companies would be tasked with revitalizing Venezuela's infrastructure, which holds the world’s largest oil reserves, to generate revenue for the country.
This operation represents the largest US military action in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion, where the US also removed the country’s leader, Manuel Noriega.
The global reaction to Maduro’s capture has been swift and critical. Russia’s Foreign Ministry voiced its "extreme alarm" and demanded an immediate explanation, condemning the action as "armed aggression." Russia also reaffirmed its support for the Venezuelan people.
Similarly, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed shock, calling the US's military actions a direct violation of international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, warning that such actions threaten peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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