The United Nations has accused the United States of violating international law following a military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro,  UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on January 5. 

Guterres conveyed “deep concern” over the legality of the operation, which took place on January 3. His remarks were delivered to the UN Security Council by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, during a special session in New York.

As bne IntelliNews reported, global reaction to the United States' unprecedented military intervention in Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro has split sharply along geopolitical and ideological lines.

Latin American nations, Russia, China and European powers offered starkly different responses to what Washington hailed as a successful operation against a narco-dictatorship. Europe’s response has been muted as it tries to sail between upholding the tenants of international law and not further irritating the mercurial US President Donald Trump.

US forces carried out a pre-dawn raid on Venezuelan territory, capturing President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The two were subsequently removed from the country and will stand trial in New York on “nacro-terrorism” charges that are widely seen to be politically motivated.

Not an ally of many other Latin American countries, nevertheless fearing for their own safety, many leaders have condemned the US military intervention.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed solidarity with Venezuela and called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued a statement demanding “an urgent international response to the US attack on Venezuela”.

Russia also condemned the operation. In a statement on January 5, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the action as “a gross violation of the principles of sovereignty and international law”, and warned it would destabilise the region further.

French officials added to the chorus of condemnation, with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs saying the forced removal of Maduro “cannot be reconciled with international legal norms”.

The White House has not formally responded to the accusations. However, US officials speaking on background said the operation targeted “illegitimate leadership” and was intended to prevent what they described as “widespread human rights abuses” under the Maduro regime.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, was not recognised by Washington following the 2018 presidential election, which the US and several allies alleged was marred by irregularities. In recent years, US policy has supported opposition leader Juan Guaidó, although many countries have since withdrawn that recognition.

“This action opens a very dangerous chapter in international affairs,” a senior Russian diplomat told RIA Novosti. “No country is safe if such precedents are allowed to stand.”