S/PV.10015 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Jenča. Mr. Jenča: In mid-August, an increased United States military presence was reported in the southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. According to the United States authorities, these deployments are part of their efforts “to stop drugs from flooding into the United States and to bring those responsible to justice”. This military presence has heightened ongoing tensions between the two countries. On 29 August, the Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela met with the Secretary-General to share his Government’s concerns about the deployment, which were later echoed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a meeting with the Secretary-General in September. Tensions further increased when, on 2 September, the United States Government announced that its military had struck a vessel suspected of carrying illegal drugs in international waters, in the southern Caribbean Sea. According to the United States authorities, 11 individuals were reportedly killed in this attack. According to information released by the United States authorities, additional air strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs were conducted on 15, 16 and 19 September and again on 3 October. In total, these operations reportedly resulted in 21 fatalities. The exact locations of these incidents have not been disclosed. The United Nations is not in a position to verify these reports. On 2 October, a White House spokesperson said that the President had acted in line with the law of armed conflict in seeking to protect the United States from those trying to bring deadly poison to its shores and in line with the President’s promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans. The Venezuelan authorities have announced that they have remained on high alert since the United States military deployments were first reported in August. They have also publicly stated that Venezuela does not wish to engage in warfare but is continuing to prepare to defend its sovereignty. On 18 August, President Nicolás Maduro Moros announced the mobilization of 4.5 million members of the Bolivarian National Militia — a civilian force with military training — to support the armed forces. The Venezuelan authorities have also announced military exercises along the country’s coasts, including the mobilization of warships, aircraft and drones in order to strengthen defence and sovereignty. On 4 September, according to the United States Government, two Venezuelan military aircraft flew over a United States Navy vessel in international waters — a move that the United States described as highly provocative. On 29 September, President Maduro Moros signed a decree for a state of emergency, granting the presidency expanded security powers in case of external aggression. The details of the decree remain undisclosed. The Venezuelan authorities stated on 2 October that they had identified five United States fighter jets flying 75 kilometres from their shoreline, denouncing the flights as a provocation, a threat to national security and a threat to the safety of civil aviation. The Venezuelan authorities have strongly condemned the strikes, which President Maduro Moros described as a violation of international law, and have called for international investigations. The Permanent Representative of Venezuela, in a letter to the Security Council dated 9 October, further stated that the ulterior purpose of the actions of the United States continues to be to advance its policies of regime change. Since 21 August, the Secretary-General, through his spokesperson, has urged both parties to de-escalate tensions, exercise restraint and solve their differences through peaceful means. The Secretary-General has emphasized that it is imperative for Member States to ensure that their actions to combat drug trafficking are carried out in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. The Secretary-General has also acknowledged the challenges posed to Member States by transnational organized crime. He has called for close cooperation and constructive dialogue to ensure that efforts to address these threats uphold the rule of law and respect human rights. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, through his spokesperson, has also stressed that the use of force in countering illicit trafficking is, in principle, a law enforcement matter and that any such use of force must respect human rights law and standards, including the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The United Nations recognizes the devastating impact of violence driven by transnational organized crime, which affects production, transit and destination countries alike, tearing at the fabric of communities and undermining development and stability across the region. We continue to emphasize the need for all efforts to counter transnational organized crime to be conducted in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Finally, we reiterate the call for de-escalation and continue to urge the parties to avoid any actions that may threaten international peace and security in the region. We call for a constructive dialogue and a peaceful resolution of differences. The United Nations remains available to support any efforts in this regard.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. The Security Council has been convened today at the request of Venezuela, a sovereign State that for several months now has been subjected to unprecedented pressure and the threat of military invasion. With each passing day, the situation is becoming more acute. Large-scale United States military activity is taking place just a few kilometres from this country’s coast, directly threatening regional and international peace and security. It is likely that today our American colleagues will dispute this fact and say they are not threatening anyone but are, rather, combating drug trafficking. At least, this is the version being actively promoted by Washington. Therefore, I suggest that we This past August, Washington began to concentrate large military forces in the southern Caribbean. It transferred three destroyers, with anti-submarine patrol aircraft, warships and a nuclear submarine to the coast of Venezuela. In total, the military contingent exceeds 4,000 personnel. How should we characterize this military build-up? Is it preparation for an invasion, or merely a regular redeployment and military exercise? One could believe the latter, were we not speaking of an independent State the change of whose regime United States representatives have repeatedly and openly declared to be a policy goal. Therefore, Venezuela has every reason to believe that its northern neighbour is ready to move from threats to action with its naval fleet. Turning to the presence or absence of a drug threat, American propaganda is asking us to believe in the mythical Cartel of the Suns that, allegedly, transports tons of cocaine from Venezuela to the United States, and whose head is none other than the President of the Bolivarian Republic whom the United States does not like. He, allegedly, is connected with drug cartels and armed groups around the world and is poisoning the lives of millions of American citizens with drugs. It is a fitting plot for a Hollywood blockbuster in which the Americans would once again save the world. However, these assertions are not underpinned by facts. Suffice it to recall that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime does not classify Venezuela as a drug trafficking hub, because 87 per cent of the cocaine entering the United States comes via the Pacific Ocean, to which Venezuela does not even have access. The White House might say they disagree with these United Nations assessments. In that case, let us take the relevant report by the United States State Department from this March. In this report, the very same Cartel of the Suns, the one the entire United States Southern Command has allegedly been mobilized to combat, is not mentioned at all. Are we really to believe that the United States State Department learned of such a threat to national security only in the last couple of months? That is hard to believe. It is far more likely that, at that point, American propagandists had simply not yet invented this threat. Nevertheless, to confirm its determination, in order to make an example, Washington recently sank four small vessels and stated that it allegedly had irrefutable evidence that they belonged to drug cartels. At the same time, the international community has no opportunity to verify these claims, because the suspects were neither detained nor charged, and the cargo they were allegedly carrying, according to the Americans, was destroyed. In other words, vessels with people aboard were simply fired upon, on the high seas, without trial or investigation, following the cowboy ethos of shooting first, and now we are being asked to retroactively believe that there were criminals on board. Russia strongly condemns these strikes on civilian vessels as a flagrant violation of international law and human rights. Such actions are only in line with the notorious theory of American exceptionalism, by which the United States can do whatever it wants, and other countries can only do what the United States allows. This logic, which underlies the concept of a rules-based world order, arbitrarily formulated by the United States and its allies, is something that we strongly reject. We call on all sensible members of the international community to do the same. In this context, we are deeply alarmed by the increasingly specific yet absolutely unfounded hints from Washington regarding the alleged connection between the gangs operating in Haiti and the supposed cartels in Venezuela. We see this as an attempt to gauge the temperature in order to eventually bring their actions under the umbrella of recent resolution 2793 (2025), which provides for combating banditry. Let us make no mistake. Today, we are dealing with a brazen campaign of political, military and psychological pressure on the Government of an independent State, with the sole purpose of changing a regime objectionable to the United States. This is being done with recourse to the traditional toolkit of colour revolutions and hybrid wars, from which millions of people around the world have already suffered. At the same time, the White House, by consistently raising tensions and artificially whipping up confrontation, is deliberately closing the window of opportunity for negotiations and ignoring the appeals of the Venezuelan leader to jointly combat drug trafficking. There is only one step from such actions to direct armed aggression. Washington must immediately stop the escalation, based on trumped-up pretexts, and not make the irreparable mistake of taking military action against Venezuela. This would risk a sharp, uncontrolled degradation of the situation, leading to serious regional destabilization and an undermining of the foundations of peaceful existence in Latin America, including the 2014 Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. Instead of adhering to the principles of international law, sovereign equality of States and respect for their sovereignty, Washington, in this case, is confirming that it approaches the region exclusively as its backyard, in the spirit of the notorious Monroe Doctrine, which has been repeatedly rejected by Latin Americans. We express our full support and solidarity with the people and Government of Venezuela and will continue our close interaction and coordination of further steps with Caracas to prevent interference in the internal affairs of that country. Venezuela, as is the case of other regional Powers that are under constant pressure from their northern neighbour, has every right to determine its own political and socioeconomic course. We expect that the States of the Latin American region, regardless of the level and quality of their bilateral relations with Venezuela, at this difficult time will show solidarity and unity in defending their identity and political independence. We also call on all colleagues in the Security Council, and in general all sensible and responsible members of the international community, to demonstrate their support for international law and the Charter of the United Nations and to send a firm and unambiguous signal to Washington. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.

China supports the convening of this emergency meeting of the Council and thanks Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. Lately, in the name of combating drug trafficking, the United States has deployed forces in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Venezuela and claimed to have sunk Venezuelan vessels, shot dead sailors and intercepted and seized Venezuelan fishing boats, resulting in continued tensions in the region. The unilateral and excessive enforcement operations of the United States against other country’s vessels in so- called international waters infringe on the relevant personnel’s right to life and other basic human rights. They pose a threat to the freedom and security of navigation in relevant waters and can potentially undermine countries’ freedom of the high seas, enjoyed in accordance with the law. These acts severely infringe on other countries’ sovereignty, security and lawful rights and interests, seriously violate international law and threaten regional peace and security. We are deeply concerned about this situation and will closely follow developments. Latin American and Caribbean countries are independent sovereign States. In 2014, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States declared the region a zone of peace. Recently, many countries of the region have voiced grave concerns about, and strong condemnation of, United States actions, calling on the international community to work together and urging the United States to cease hostile activities and maintain peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. We hope that the United States will heed the calls of countries of the region and safeguard, in earnest, peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the outset, I want to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. In these challenging times, with conflicts persisting across many regions of the world, we are repeatedly reminded of the paramount importance of respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law. The proliferation of conflicts and growing insecurity are inevitably linked to violations of our shared commitment to international peace and security. While we are concerned, in that regard, about the situation off the coast of Venezuela, we are equally troubled about the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the country, compounded by political instability and violence. As maritime security in the Caribbean has significant implications for regional stability, the events described by Assistant Secretary-General Jenča could potentially set a dangerous precedent and place us on a volatile path. At this stage, it is therefore of the utmost importance to refrain from any actions that might further aggravate the situation. Working together through international law enforcement and judicial cooperation is the most effective and powerful tool against organized crime. It is our responsibility, as members of the Council, to ensure that we do not stray from the United Nations Charter and international law and to insist that the obligations therein be respected at all times. We recognize Latin America and the Caribbean’s commitment to peace, security and stability. We welcome the statements and actions of countries and groups of countries of the region aimed at upholding this commitment. Slovenia will stand with them as they work to maintain a zone of peace in the region.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his helpful briefing, and Sierra Leone takes note of the communication from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela dated 9 October 2025. As we approach the eightieth anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, this meeting must remind us of the enduring relevance of the Charter’s principles and the need to ensure that our collective security framework continues to serve as the foundation of peace and stability. The Charter’s promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war was premised on the acceptance by all States, large and small, of the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, non-intervention, the non-use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The drafters of the Charter, conscious of the failures of the League of Nations, deliberately replaced the doctrine of might is right with a new international order governed by law. They understood that durable peace required collective responsibility and restraint. It was for this reason that the United Nations established a system of collective security, with the Security Council entrusted as the principal organ for maintaining international peace and security. This structure was meant to ensure that force would never again be the first recourse to conflict. The authority of the Council carries with it an obligation to ensure clarity and preserve consistency in the application of the Charter’s principles. The rules that bind the international community must apply equally to all Member States. The legitimacy of the multilateral system depends on this equality before the law. When the Council acts, it speaks on behalf of all Member States. When it fails to uphold the rules that sustain peace, it risks weakening the very system designed to protect us all. Sierra Leone takes note of the concerns raised in Venezuela’s letter regarding developments in the Caribbean region and the appeal to the Security Council to uphold the Charter’s purposes and principles. While it may be too early to comment on the specifics of the matters reported, Sierra Leone reiterates that all Member States have an obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, to refrain from the threat or use of force and to resolve disputes by peaceful means. These obligations are not conditional. They are the bedrock of international peace and security. In our usual introspection, we recall that our country’s own history has demonstrated that peace, once lost, can be restored only through adherence to law, dialogue and cooperation. As such, Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of the Charter and to the broader framework of international law that supports it. That includes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which codifies many rules of customary international law applicable to non-State Parties and provides a comprehensive legal regime governing maritime activities. In that regard, we also take note of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, which established Latin America and the Caribbean as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Accordingly, Sierra Leone underscores that the threat or use of force in contravention of the Charter and international law is unlawful and undermines the cohesion of the international rules-based system. The Charter allows the use of force in only two circumstances: when authorized by the Council under Chapter VII or when a State acts in self-defence in response to an armed attack, as recognized in Article 51. Outside these parameters, unilateral uses of force, whether justified by claims of pre-emptive defence, counter-terrorism or combating transnational crime, lack legal foundation. Such actions erode confidence in the collective security scheme and risk destabilizing entire regions. Resolutely, for the referenced transnational criminal activities, the appropriate means of redress must remain within the confines of law. States should resort to Further, all Member States, without distinction, bear the responsibility to ensure that their actions, whether political, economic or military, conform to international law and contribute to the maintenance of peace. Selective application of norms corrodes trust in multilateralism and diminishes the Council’s capacity to act collectively. Sierra Leone therefore urges restraint, renewed dialogue and the faithful application of international legal principles by all parties concerned. The mechanisms for peaceful settlement, negotiation, mediation, arbitration and judicial recourse exist precisely to avert confrontation. The Security Council, for its part, must remain a guardian of these principles, ensuring that its decisions reinforce, rather than erode, the architecture of collective security envisioned in San Francisco eight decades ago. Let us therefore resolve, as the founders of the United Nations did 80 years ago, that the maintenance of international peace is not the prerogative of individual Member States but the responsibility of all. For it is through adherence to law, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes that the promise of the Charter, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, can be truly fulfilled.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Venezuela in today’s meeting. Guyana has taken careful note of the letters sent by the Foreign Minister and the Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the President of the Security Council on 2 and 9 October, respectively, in which they expressed concern about escalating developments in the Caribbean region. We have also followed closely the public reporting and official statements from the United States Government that give important insights into the actions being carried out in the Caribbean Sea. Regional leaders have been informed that the ongoing operations target illegal drug trafficking. The abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs have been the primary drivers of crime and violence across many countries and societies. Nowhere are the consequences more acute than in the Latin American and Caribbean region, which is home to just over 8 per cent of the world’s population and to 33.6 million of the world’s poor. The illegal drug trade and its criminal networks have the capacity to undermine State institutions, threaten democracy, pervert the rule of law and destabilize economies. Consequently, our region now accounts for nearly one third of global homicides, and our youth have become victims of criminal organizations that feed greedily on demands emanating far beyond our shores for illicit drugs and psychedelics. Despite persistent efforts to rid ourselves of this scourge, our efforts have not yet yielded the desired results. Criminal organizations have continually evolved, devising increasingly sophisticated networks to circumvent law enforcement and expand their illegal activities to increase profits and exploit vulnerabilities created by social and political instability. Meanwhile, many of our Governments have had to increase investments in law enforcement at the expense of socioeconomic development programmes. It is in this context that the leaders in our region have pledged to bring an end to this damaging phenomenon. Member States of the Caribbean Community have given Just yesterday, Guyana joined several Caribbean countries in strengthening its response to new and emerging drug threats by launching a national early warning system, designed to detect, assess, and respond swiftly to new psychoactive substances and strengthen our overall public health and national security frameworks. International, regional and bilateral cooperation has been crucial in dismantling the trafficking networks that exploit Guyana as a transshipment point for cocaine and other narcotics. It is in this spirit that Guyana continues to advocate for strengthening partnerships and cooperation among countries and regional and international organizations. Such partnerships must be rooted in the rule of law and international legal frameworks, ensuring a unified and lawful approach to combating drug trafficking and related crimes. We treasure the region’s designation as a zone of peace. As such, our commitment to non-intervention, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the pacific settlement of disputes is firm and unwavering. We are also cognizant that this peace is not immune to the threats of criminal transnational drug trafficking networks. Indeed, no country in the Latin American and Caribbean region or in North America is untouched by the devastating impacts of the illicit trafficking of drugs and arms and ammunition. We can and must collectively respond in a manner that safeguards the stability of our region and the security of our people. In closing, it is the responsibility of all leaders to be beacons of peace and not to contribute to the proliferation of armed conflict. Guyana will continue to be a partner for peace and is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure we simultaneously address sources of instability and strife, while upholding our adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

We thank Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, for his detailed briefing. We also acknowledge the presence of the delegation of Venezuela. Panama and the Venezuelan people share a deep bond, rooted in history and in the ideals of freedom that have united our peoples since the time of the liberator Simón Bolívar. However, for decades, this sister Republic has been subjected to an authoritarian regime that has done nothing but persecute its people, silence dissenting voices and dismantle democracy. In the face of this situation, courageous voices are speaking up to confront one of the most severe dictatorships in our region. In this regard, Panama welcomes the recent news and congratulates María Corina Machado on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today, in recognition of her tireless struggle for freedom, democracy and the rights of the Venezuelan people. In this context, Panama would like to make it clear that it does not recognize the authoritarian regime that has kept Venezuelans mired in one of the worst political, social, humanitarian and criminal crises in our region. Panama is, with deep pride, the custodian of the records that confirm, beyond question, that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is His Excellency Edmundo González Urrutia. We take this opportunity to reiterate the message conveyed at the time by His Excellency José Raúl Mulino, President of the Republic of Panama, to Venezuela’s President-elect, Edmundo González Urrutia: “Panama stands with you and with the legitimacy you represent.” Panama condemns the repeated human rights violations and political persecution. The progressive institutional deterioration, authoritarianism and erosion of political and civil rights in Venezuela constitute, on their own, a serious threat to international peace, security and stability throughout the region. However, with regard to security concerns in the Caribbean Sea, we call for these not to be used for political purposes or to divert attention from the institutional and humanitarian challenges facing Venezuela. Furthermore, as this is a priority issue for our country, Panama reiterates the importance of preserving peace, security and maritime stability in the region, since these are essential pillars for our entire hemisphere. As a State party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Panama reaffirms its commitment to upholding the international legal order governing the oceans. In this regard, any action that jeopardizes this shared objective must be addressed with responsibility, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and in strict adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law. While we recognize the legitimate concerns arising from drug trafficking, piracy and other illicit activities in the waters of our region, we emphasize that beyond military responses, it is possible to confront this scourge through coordinated and sustainable strategies. Such strategies, based on cooperation, mutual assistance and full respect for the international legal framework, also enable the effective dismantling of the extensive networks that sustain illicit economies. Panama believes that the transnational threats facing our region require joint responses grounded in respect for international law and underpinned by a shared commitment to peace, security and stability in our hemisphere.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their right to democracy, freedom and human dignity. Nicolás Maduro Moros’ claim to power is fraudulent. The National Electoral Council of Venezuela has still not released the full results of the July 2024 elections, which were neither free nor fair. His regime does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people. Since the election, the Venezuelan authorities have continued to deepen repression and further erode the fundamental rights of all Venezuelans. More than 800 Venezuelans remain arbitrarily detained, with reports of enforced disappearances targeting opposition members, human rights defenders and the independent media. This has to stop. Human rights must be protected, and the democratic will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. The United Kingdom will continue to work with our international partners to achieve a negotiated transition in Venezuela, as the only solution that ensures the will of all Venezuelans is respected. Drug trafficking and organized crime are global threats. They cost lives, blight communities, hamper economic growth and threaten our shared security and prosperity. The United Kingdom remains committed to fighting the scourge of drugs and organized crime, including with our partners in Latin America, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this urgent meeting to consider the situation brought to our attention by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I would also like to welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Venezuela at the meeting, and I wish to thank Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, for his insightful briefing. Algeria is following these recent developments with concern and wishes to emphasize the importance of avoiding any escalation that could threaten regional peace and security. The Charter of the United Nations sets out the principles that form the foundation of peaceful coexistence among nations and aims to develop friendly relations among them, based on respect for the principle of equal rights of peoples, sovereign equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. These are not abstract ideals but binding commitments that guide our collective responsibility to preserve international peace and security. In this spirit, Algeria calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any action or rhetoric that could further aggravate the situation. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means to resolve disputes and maintain regional stability. In the particular context of recent developments in the region, we recall the importance of preserving Latin America and the Caribbean region as a zone of peace, as proclaimed by the region’s leaders — a commitment that must continue to guide relations among its States. Having experienced first-hand a bitter fight against cross-border drug trafficking and organized crime, Algeria believes that the resolute fight against this scourge is a shared responsibility and effort of the entire international community. No nation can face it alone. This challenge must be addressed through international cooperation rooted in mutual respect, sovereignty and solidarity. What is needed is comprehensive strategies that help strengthen institutions, promote socioeconomic development, tackle security threats and address the root causes that fuel these illicit networks. In conclusion, Algeria believes that the path forward lies in diplomacy, cooperation and respect for international law. Let us honour the vision of the Charter of the United Nations and work tirelessly for peace, justice and the dignity of all peoples.

We thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting in response to the letter from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (S/2025/618). We also extend our appreciation to Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his comprehensive briefing on the worrisome developments. We welcome the representative of Venezuela to this meeting. Our delegation is following the developments in the Caribbean region with close attention and concern. The issues raised today highlight the risks that heightened tensions can pose to regional and international peace and stability. In this context, we wish to emphasize the importance of restraint, calm and dialogue among all concerned parties. It is essential that every effort be made to avoid actions or rhetoric that could further escalate the situation. We encourage all parties to use diplomatic channels and established international mechanisms to address all concerns. We reiterate that upholding the principles of

I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. Greece is following closely the developments in the region and is concerned by the recent escalation of tensions. Moreover, we are alarmed by the rising threat of drug trafficking in the wider region, directly linked to maritime security. In this regard, all necessary measures should be taken to tackle the production and trafficking of drugs. We believe that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to the peaceful resolution of disputes, utilizing the tools enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Moreover, we emphasize the need for adherence to international law, including obligations pertaining to international humanitarian law and respect for human rights. It is of paramount importance for all parties to seek a de-escalation of the situation, considering the current socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis in the region. Greece stands ready to support all bilateral, regional and international efforts for de-escalation that contribute to the resolution of the crisis, with a view to avoiding further exacerbation of tensions. Finally, I would like to congratulate María Corina Machado on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She is an inspiring figure of peace, democracy and freedom.

I also thank Assistant Secretary- General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing. At a moment when the world begins to glimpse a ceasefire, the light at the end of the tunnel after two painful years of the Gaza crisis, it is unfortunate that we are witnessing deteriorating developments in Latin America and the Caribbean. During the recent high-level week of the General Assembly, many world leaders voiced their shared commitment to overcoming the crisis of multilateralism and to addressing the deepening geopolitical divisions of our current time. In today’s deeply interconnected world, we recognize that differences in the interpretation and application of the core principles of the Charter of the United Nations can, at times, turn those who might otherwise resolve their disputes peacefully into parties to regional tensions. The Republic of Korea therefore wishes to underscore the importance of multilateralism and dialogue to narrow differences among all parties concerned. The Republic of Korea is ready to engage constructively in discussions on this issue, guided by a strong sense of responsibility as part of the Security Council. The Republic of Korea notes with appreciation that the Latin America and the Caribbean region has long upheld a proud tradition of multilateralism and peace, as exemplified by many regional bodies and the historic Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. Against this backdrop, we hope that the relevant regional organizations will take a more active and constructive role in fostering dialogue and stability in the region.

The Trump Administration is on the offensive against drug cartels and drug trafficking into the United States. President Trump has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter President Trump has also made very clear that he is not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places, including Venezuela, which is a common route. We are going to put an end to the drug cartels that are flooding American streets with their products and killing Americans. The United States has designated the Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de Los Soles as terrorist groups, which is what they are. When they flood American streets with drugs, they are terrorizing America, and that is going to end. Let me be clear. The cartels carrying out this assault against our citizens are armed, well organized and violent. They have financial means, technical sophistication and extensive paramilitary capabilities. They are bringing death and destruction to Americans. Therefore, President Trump has determined these cartels are non-State armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States. Friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these terrorist organizations and have suffered significant loss of life as a result. The United States has reached a critical point in which it must use force in self- defence and in defence of others. Based on the cumulative effect of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, President Trump has determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict and has directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict and consistent with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. Although these strikes have been limited in scope, United States forces remain postured to carry out military operations as necessary to prevent further deaths or injury to American citizens by eliminating the threat. Let me stress that the United States does not recognize Nicolás Maduro or his cronies as the Government of Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro is a fugitive from American justice and the head of the vicious narco-terrorist Cartel de Los Soles. Moreover, the actions and policies of the illegitimate Maduro regime pose an extraordinary threat to both the region and the national security of the United States. We appreciate the countries in the Western Hemisphere that have heeded our call to designate Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles as terrorist groups, recognizing the threat they pose to the entire region. To iterate, the United States will not waver in its action to protect Americans from narco-terrorists.

I would like to begin by thanking the Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Miroslav Jenča, for his briefing. France underscores, as it does at all times, its dedication to international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States must be observed. All international disputes must be settled peacefully in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3, of the Charter. France is watching recent developments in the Caribbean Sea closely and appeals for any escalation that could jeopardize peace and security in the region and beyond to be averted. France reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking, which poses a mounting threat to the security, health and stability of our societies. It has strengthened its judicial and policing arsenal for combating drug trafficking and has deepened its cooperation with countries in the Caribbean region. France supports the multilateral initiatives aimed at stemming the traffickers’ sources of financing and at bolstering border control. That fight must be waged in accordance with international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations and the various applicable United Nations treaties, be it the United Nations Convention France also wishes to convey its solidarity with the Venezuelan people amid the crisis that it is experiencing. In this connection, France welcomes the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado in recognition of the Venezuelan opposition’s dedication to democracy. France renews its call for dialogue to resume among all stakeholders so that stability may return to Venezuela.

Let me thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing and welcome the representative of Venezuela to this meeting. Let me start by congratulating Ms. María Corina Machado on being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. We recognize and commend her work for free and fair elections, civil and political rights and the rule of law in Venezuela. Denmark joins the Secretary-General in expressing concern about the recent heightened tensions in the Caribbean Sea. We strongly urge all parties to de-escalate tensions and exercise the necessary restraint. Confrontation must be avoided, and differences must be resolved through peaceful means. It is crucial that diplomatic solutions are sought to make progress towards a peaceful resolution in accordance with international law, including the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. All measures taken to address concerns must be in accordance with the Charter, relevant international human rights law and the law of the sea. A calm and level-headed approach is required. Dialogue, engagement and renewed commitment to diplomacy are key. We call on the parties to take urgent and meaningful steps to address any concerns and to de-escalate tensions. We further urge greater engagement with the United Nations and regional bodies such as the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States to allow them to play a role in facilitating dialogue and de-escalation. Denmark supports the ambitions of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to make the Caribbean a zone of peace, not a region of conflict and tension.

I would also like to join colleagues in thanking Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Venezuela in this meeting. We are concerned about the disturbing developments and the recent heightening of tensions in the Caribbean region. We take note of Venezuela’s letters addressed to the President of the Security Council, in which it shares its perspective on the developments in the region and its apprehensions about the risks this situation poses to regional stability. In an already polarized world and the fractured global context that we are witnessing today, it behoves us to once again underscore the centrality and inviolability of Charter of the United Nations and its core principles, including friendly relations among nations based on the respect for the principles of equal rights and the self-determination of peoples, the sovereign equality of all Member States, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the prohibition on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States. Actions that run contrary to My delegation firmly believes that for peace to prevail, the path of confrontation and zero-sum approaches must be abandoned. The complex challenges that we face as a global community demand that we adopt inclusive approaches, show mutual respect, work together with shared purpose and develop unified responses to global challenges. We call upon the parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions and refrain from any actions that could further inflame the situation. As we have said repeatedly, dialogue in good faith remains the only viable and sustainable tool for resolving differences. We encourage the parties to utilize all available diplomatic channels and to seek constructive engagement under the framework of international law. They may also avail themselves of the auspices and the good offices of the United Nations, the Secretary-General and the relevant regional organizations, as appropriate. I note that the resort to peaceful settlement was the underlying spirit of, and collective commitment made in, resolution 2788 (2025), which was adopted three months ago. We recognize that transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, is a challenge to the well-being of societies and communities. However, the international response to these problems must be rooted in the principle of common and shared responsibility through a cooperative and comprehensive approach, in strict conformity with international law, including the United Nations Charter, as also highlighted by Assistant Secretary-General Jenča. We urge all parties to respect the imperative of peaceful coexistence and choose the path of dialogue and cooperation to ensure that this region is indeed a zone of peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We have come before the Security Council to issue a condemnation of the utmost gravity — one that sounds the alarm about a series of actions that are threatening the peace and security of not only our nation but also that of the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. For years, the United States Government has waged a campaign of propaganda and disinformation against our country. At present, it is ramping up the deployment of military forces, just miles off the Venezuelan coast. The offensive military build- up has involved mobilizing more than 10,000 troops, as well as fighter jets, missile destroyers, missile cruisers, storm troopers, special operations and covert missions personnel and even a nuclear submarine. The belligerent acts and rhetoric of the United States Government objectively indicate that we are confronting a situation in which it is reasonable to believe that an armed assault on Venezuela is imminent. That is why we are here. We are here because the Security Council has the necessary means to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. We are here to prevent the commission of an international crime. The Charter of the United Nations offers all of us in this Chamber the necessary means not only to confirm the existence of a threat, but also to maintain regional and international peace and security. If this body has the political will to uphold its mandate, it can use those means. Today the world can see them. It is time to uphold the expectations that we who believe in the Charter of the United Nations have of the Council. The narrative of the United States has feet of clay. It is utterly detached from reality. Since January, this Government has been trying to convince the world that right now, today, Venezuelans are invading the territory of this country, that the presence of Venezuelans, by mere virtue of their nationality, is a threat to the security of the United States and that they are all terrorists. This amounts to the Today we are all seeing the first tragic consequences of the reality faced by our region. The United States Government has acknowledged that, thousands of kilometres from its shores, it bombed four small vessels in the Caribbean, murdering 21 unarmed civilians who never posed any threat to its national security. The United States Government is hiding its crimes behind the mask of self-defence, murdering civilians without providing information about their identity, evidence of the type of cargo on the vessels or proof of an imminent armed attack on United States forces. This is not self-defence. These are extrajudicial executions. There is a murderer roving around the Caribbean, a murderer who is looking for excuses to manufacture a conflict and to launch an attack by manipulating the principle of legitimate defence, and who wants to go on murdering. There are established procedures worldwide to combat drugs without murdering the suspects. The United States is the only Government that proclaims the principle of “shoot first, ask questions later”. Who can believe that the aim of a military escalation of this magnitude in the Caribbean is to combat drug trafficking? The truth is that the United States Government, as confirmed by the international press, has already issued a secret order authorizing the use of military force on foreign soil, with the pretext of a false war on drug trafficking. At the same time, the Central Intelligence Agency has also been authorized to conduct clandestine operations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. All of that signals a new wave of aggression in our region. There is no conflict. The United States is manufacturing the conflict, and it is doing so because, while there may well be, most regrettably, a tragedy in that country caused by drug addiction — and we stand ready to help to address that serious public health crisis — there is another dangerous addiction that no one talks about, and that is the addiction to oil. The United States is desperate to control all sources of oil throughout the world, and it believes that Venezuela’s oil belongs to it. Its desperate addiction drives it to violate every international legal norm, as we saw in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan. But now is the time to prevent a war against Venezuela. If Venezuela did not have oil, the military threat that is about to be carried out would not exist. The plan is clear. It is, once again, to carry out the operation that already failed — to overthrow the legitimate and constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, with the aim of installing a puppet regime and turning our country into a colony. Without providing evidence, the United States Government has become the judge and executioner of an entire people. However, international law also applies to the United States. It is not an exceptional country. It is seated at this table because it committed to uphold the Charter of the United Nations. Today Venezuela has come to demand that the United States Government fulfil its international obligations. The means required to defuse this situation exist. Our country has always been and will remain willing to engage in dialogue to overcome any difficulty through political and diplomatic means in order to maintain our region as a zone of peace. One of the matters that we must discuss bilaterally and urgently is the repatriation of 78 Venezuelan children abducted in the United States, who have been separated from What right does the United States have to militarize the Caribbean region? It has no right. What right does the United States have to execute civilians, who have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and to due process? It has no right. What right does the United States have to terrorize and deprive of their livelihoods humble fishermen throughout the Caribbean region? It has no right. The United States believes that the Caribbean belongs to it because for more than 100 years, it has employed the expansionist Monroe doctrine, which is merely a colonialist burden. Our region has suffered more than a century of invasions by the United States. In its 250 years of history, the United States has had only four years of peace, and today it is willing to set the Caribbean ablaze to maintain its ideology of endless war, a perverse ideology that its own people reject. The United States promotes endless war as a tool of global propaganda and a bona fide industry of lies and death. Many people have been victims of the greed of the United States at some point or another. How many people have to die and how many years will have to pass until the world understands that the United States is lying once again, as it has historically? For its part, Venezuela has a deep-rooted tradition of peace. Since gaining its independence more than two centuries ago, Venezuela has never been embroiled in an international conflict, and it is proud of that history. We neither need nor want war with anyone. In view of the foregoing, we believe that it is time for the Security Council to uphold the mandate conferred upon it by the Security Council and to prevent a catastrophe that could convulse the entire region for generations. To that end, we propose the following three actions to the Council. First, there is a need to acknowledge the threat to international peace and security posed by the United States Government’s current escalation in the Caribbean. Secondly, the necessary measures must be adopted to prevent the situation on the ground from deteriorating further. Thirdly, a Security Council resolution must be adopted, whereby all Council members, including the United States, commit to respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We are only asking for respect for the Charter of the United Nations, to which all States in the Security Council have committed themselves. The implementation of these actions would ensure the immediate deactivation of the threat in our region. We all need peace, including the United States. Before concluding, allow me to address a few brief words to our people, who at this moment are living in perfect peace, united and mobilized in the face of the dangers that threaten our homeland. At this critical moment in our history, all Venezuelans remember our grandparents, our great-grandparents and all those who fought to maintain a peaceful, prosperous and dignified country. We Venezuelans are proud to be Venezuelans. We do not want the tutelage of any empire. With great sacrifices, we have achieved a country that does not subordinate itself to anyone. We aspire to relations of friendship and cooperation with the whole world, based on mutual respect. But we do not permit insults and threats from anyone. Venezuelans do not yield to blackmail. Those who confuse our willingness to talk with weakness are mistaken. We have more than 200 years of independent history, and if anyone thinks they can wipe us out because we are a small country, they should look to the past and see that Venezuela was the tomb of an empire. The Charter of the United Nations and the doctrine of universal peace protects Venezuela and all nations of the world. As guaranteed under Article 51, Venezuela will exercise its right to self-defence. Venezuela is ours. It does not belong to the United States. We are sure that the world will understand that, in the face of an attack, we will exercise, with all the strength that the love for our homeland gives us, our right to legitimate self-defence. And, even if this struggle takes generations, we will win. Venezuela will continue to win the peace, exercise its full sovereignty and guarantee the right to life.

The representative of the United States of America has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I also want to be clear that the United States is in no way against the people of Venezuela who, we believe, have the right to be represented by a legitimate Government. The plain reality of the situation is that Nicolás Maduro is the leader of a designated narco-terrorist group, the Cartel of the Suns, and he is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe. Maduro, currently indicted by my country, has corrupted Venezuela’s institutions to assist the cartel’s criminal narco-trafficking scheme into the United States. It is the action and policies of his illegitimate regime that pose an extraordinary threat to both the region and the national security of the United States.

The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

What has just happened is precisely an example of my entire statement. The representative of the United States made accusations against our President without any evidence. We have never seen any evidence. There were accusations against all our armed forces, against all our people. He declares that there is an invasion, that we are a threat, without any evidence. That is the problem of the arrogance of certain Powers, when they believe that we have to subordinate ourselves to them because they believe that we do not have the capacity to defend our rights. We are here to defend our rights, to defend the truth. We are here to defend our authorities, our people and our presence in the United Nations. It is very important for all of us not to allow a repeat of the past, when other countries were accused of having weapons of mass destruction or chemical weapons, of whatever barbarity, simply as an excuse to start a war; excuses later found to be simply untrue. Let us not fall into that trap again. Let us learn from history.