In a dramatic emergency session of the UN Security Council, Venezuela launched scathing accusations against the United States, characterizing recent naval operations as the “greatest extortion” in its history. The diplomatic confrontation emerged from Washington’s seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers earlier this month, with US authorities reportedly pursuing a third vessel.
Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada delivered an impassioned address, denouncing American actions as “worse than piracy” and accusing the US government of engaging in systematic “pillaging, looting and recolonisation” of his nation. Moncada challenged the legal basis of US jurisdiction in Caribbean waters and questioned the connection between Venezuela’s oil industry and American counter-narcotics operations.
The Trump administration justified its military deployment—the largest to the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama—as necessary to combat drug trafficking. President Trump has explicitly accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of overseeing a narcotics cartel and permitting criminal organizations to operate with impunity. The US naval blockade, initiated on December 16, targets all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters, with seized crude oil and vessels potentially being retained or sold by American authorities.
US Ambassador Michael Waltz countered Venezuela’s claims by asserting that Washington does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Waltz maintained that Maduro’s ability to monetize national oil resources enables his “fraudulent claims to power and his narco-terrorist activities.”
The geopolitical confrontation drew significant international responses, with Russia and China condemning American actions. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned that US operations against Venezuelan vessels established “a template for future acts of force against Latin American states,” while Chinese envoy Sun Lei urged Washington to “immediately halt relevant actions and avoid further escalation of tensions.”
The military dimension includes the deployment of 15,000 US troops supported by aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships to the Caribbean region. American operations have targeted over 20 vessels in both Pacific and Caribbean waters in recent months, resulting in at least 100 casualties according to reports. Some international legal experts have raised concerns that these strikes may violate established laws governing armed conflict.