United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned that Venezuela could face deeper instability after the United States captured President Nicolas Maduro.

At the same time, Washington told the UN Security Council that it had no intention of occupying Venezuela.

Security Council Meets Ahead of Maduro’s Court Appearance

The 15-member UN Security Council met at UN headquarters in New York. The meeting took place just hours before Maduro was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court.

US authorities have charged Maduro with drug-related offences, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has denied all wrongdoing.

Guterres Raises Regional and Global Concerns

During the meeting, Guterres expressed serious concern about the broader consequences of the US action.

“I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted,” Reuters quoted Guterres as saying in a statement delivered by UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo.

US Defends Operation as Law Enforcement Action

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the operation. He said the US had carried out “a surgical law enforcement operation facilitated by the US military against two indicted fugitives of American justice.”

He was referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Waltz stressed that Washington was not at war with Venezuela.

“As Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio has said, there is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country,” he told the council.

US Cites Security and Energy Concerns

Waltz also explained why the US considered the operation necessary. He said Washington would not tolerate threats in the region. “We’re not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be used as a base of operation for our nation’s adversaries,” Waltz said.

“You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States, under the control of illegitimate leaders, and not benefiting the people of Venezuela.”

Venezuela Condemns US Action

In response, Venezuela’s UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada strongly criticised the US move. He described the operation as “an illegitimate armed attack lacking any legal justification.”

Moncada told the council that Venezuela’s institutions were functioning normally. He said constitutional order remained intact and that the government maintained full control over its territory.

UN Calls for Dialogue and Peaceful Solution

Guterres urged all sides in Venezuela to seek a peaceful and democratic solution. He encouraged dialogue instead of confrontation. “I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward,” he said.

Legal Concerns Over Use of Force

The UN chief also raised concerns about whether the US operation complied with international law. He pointed out that the UN Charter requires member states to avoid the threat or use of force against another country’s territorial integrity or political independence.

However, the United States cited Article 51 of the UN Charter. This article allows self-defence if a UN member faces an armed attack.

Global Reactions Split at UN

Russia, China, and Colombia condemned the US military action. They called it illegal. Most other Security Council members avoided directly criticising Washington. Instead, they stressed the need to respect international law and the UN Charter. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia strongly criticised this approach.

“Unintelligible murmurings and attempts to avoid principled assessments by those who in other circumstances froth at the mouth and demand that others respect the UN Charter today seem particularly hypocritical and unseemly,” he said.

Colombia, Russia, China Demand Release

Colombia, which requested the emergency meeting, said the US operation violated Venezuela’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. Russia, China, and Venezuela jointly called on the United States to release Maduro and his wife.

UN Action Against US Unlikely

Despite the criticism, any formal action against Washington appears unlikely. The United States holds veto power on the Security Council, along with Russia, China, Britain, and France. This makes binding action against the US nearly impossible.