The first meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2026, called on an extraordinary basis to discuss the United States attack on Venezuela, ended without consensus, as has been the outcome of most topics debated in the UN’s highest security body. At the meeting, called by Colombia – and with the support of Russia and China, both with permanent seats at the UNSC -, the division of global leaders over the weekend’s events that resulted in the fall of dictator Nicolás Maduro became evident.
Despite the lack of progress, talks and bilateral negotiations should continue behind the scenes, in addition to the meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York this Monday, according to sources heard by the BroadcastGrupo Estado’s real-time news system.
A member of the Security Council could propose a text for a resolution on the US attack on Venezuela, says one of them, on condition of anonymity. But, for now, this has not yet happened and the text could also be vetoed by the USA, explains a second diplomat. The right of veto of the permanent members of the UNSC, in fact, has prevented the body from acting in relation to different conflicts.
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The highest decision-making body, the UNSC is made up of 15 countries, five of which have permanent seats and ten have rotating seats. The permanent members are China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Russia; everyone has veto power.
Brazil, which requested to participate in the meeting, urged the UNSC to assume its responsibility in relation to the US attacks on Venezuela. He further argued that the body must react with “determination, clarity and obedience to international law, in order to prevent the law of force from prevailing over the Rule of Law”.
Brazil’s permanent representative to the UN, Sérgio Danese, stated that the bombings in Venezuelan territory and the capture of Maduro cross an “unacceptable line” and “set a dangerous precedent”. The diplomat spoke in Spanish, an act of symbolism in his speech, normally made in English, and reinforced the position of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), as expected.
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“These acts constitute a serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” said Danese. He stated that, for the first time, a “profoundly alarming event” had occurred in South America and that the region was a “zone of peace.” The diplomat also emphasized that Brazil does not believe that the solution to the situation in Venezuela is the creation of “protectorates”, but rather actions that respect the self-determination of its people, within the limits of the country’s Constitution.
In contrast, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz countered accusations from Latin American representatives and said the US is “not occupying” Venezuela. In his speech, he stated that last Saturday’s operation was an “application of the law” in the face of legal accusations that have existed for decades.
“President (Donald) Trump gave diplomacy a chance. He offered Maduro multiple offers. He tried to de-escalate. Maduro refused to accept them,” Waltz said, adding that the U.S. believes a “better future” for the people of Venezuela and the world is to “stabilize the region.” “The United States will not waver in our actions to protect Americans from the plague of narcoterrorism and seek peace, freedom and justice for the great people of Venezuela,” he said.
Venezuela’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, said that the US attack was a flagrant violation of the country’s territorial integrity and political independence and that it sets an “extremely dangerous precedent” for UN member countries, regardless of size, power or alliances. “January 3, 2026 is a date of profound historical importance, not only for Venezuela, but for the international system. On that day, in America, Venezuela was the target of an illegitimate armed attack, without any legal justification, by the United States government,” he said.
In turn, representatives from Colombia, Russia and China again condemned the US attacks on Venezuela, reinforcing their support for the country and calling for a diplomatic solution. Russia criticized the US actions, pointing out ‘hypocrisy and cynicism’. China accused the Americans of kidnapping Maduro and his wife and said it was “deeply shocked” by the attack on Venezuela, reaffirming its position released on Saturday.
“This represents a clear violation of the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Venezuela. There is no justification, under any circumstances, for the unilateral use of force, to commit an act of aggression”, said Colombia’s ambassador to the UN, Leonor Zalabata. The country requested the meeting to discuss the US attacks on Venezuela.
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Representative from Argentina also reaffirmed a position more aligned with the USA and defended “a safe transition” in Venezuela. Over the weekend, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to comment on whether the US action against Venezuela may have violated international law, in different interviews with foreign press outlets. The European Union called for “calm and moderation from all actors involved in the crisis in Venezuela, with the aim of avoiding escalation of tensions and seeking a peaceful solution” to the crisis.”
In her opening speech at the meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said the organization is “deeply concerned that the rules of international law were not respected in relation to the military action on January 3.”
