UN, EU, supreme organ of Caribbean Community condemn US military operation in Venezuela

The United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the supreme organ of the Caribbean Community, have joined the forces to condemn the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and its capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on Saturday,terming the move as a serious breach of international law and a threat to regional stability.

The U.S. move came amid six months of threats and pressure tactics and the escalating tensions between the two countries.

In his response, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Saturday that he is deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with the U.S. military action in the country on Saturday, which has potential worrying implications for the region.

“Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” said the statement issued by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

“The secretary-general continues to emphasize the importance of full respect — by all — of international law, including the UN Charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” the statement said.

The secretary-general calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law, it added.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday that the EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.

The EU stands with the Venezuelan people and supports a peaceful and democratic transition, and any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter, she noted.

Also on Saturday, the European Parliament made strong criticism of the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, noting that such actions seriously violate international law, further destabilize the region, and undermine the West’s own credibility.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Committee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament, said on Saturday that the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was “blatantly trampling on international law.”

She emphasized that legitimizing the U.S. approach would “completely destroy any credibility the West has left.”

She also called on Europe to accelerate the development of a common foreign policy and a robust security policy.

Furthermore, CARICOM on Saturday convened an emergency meeting regarding the U.S. military action against Venezuela.

In a statement posted on social media, the organization said that CARICOM is closely monitoring the developments in the regional situation.

The unfolding events have raised serious concern across the region and could have implications for neighboring countries, the statement said.

CARICOM will continue to obtain the latest information and keep people in the region informed of further developments, it added.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States will “run” Venezuela after the U.S. military raided the country and captured its President Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country.

“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida.

“We don’t want to be involved with having somebody else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So we are going to run the country,” he said.

Trump said he plans to authorize U.S. oil giants to take over and invest in Venezuela’s energy infrastructure and “start making money for the country,” adding that the embargo on all Venezuelan oil “remains in full effect.”

He said the U.S. launched air, land, and sea forces in the military operation, adding that the U.S. is prepared to stage a second attack on Venezuela, but it is probably not necessary. If needed, the U.S. is ready for a second “and much larger” attack on the country, he said.

After the attack on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, most shops were closed. Long queues formed in front of some pharmacies and supermarkets, and parts of the metro were not operating normally.

“We need peace and quiet, more than anything. I don’t know, I have this sense of uncertainty, not knowing what’s going to happen. That makes me feel kind of insecure. I can’t stay at home because I start thinking about things, you know? I go to the park to exercise every day, but today it’s closed. I just sat here hoping everything would calm down and things would return to normal,” one Caracas resident said.