The UN security council held an emergency session Tuesday following increasingly assertive U.S. actions against Venezuela, including a recently announced naval blockade targeting the nation’s oil exports [[1]]. Caracas requested the meeting, backed by key allies Russia and China, to address what they characterize as violations of international law and an escalation of geopolitical tensions [[3]]. The dispute highlights a growing power struggle in the region, raising concerns about stability and potential intervention as the U.S. accuses Venezuela’s leadership of ties to criminal organizations [[2]].
The United Nations Security Council witnessed a sharp exchange Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as Russia and China condemned escalating U.S. pressure on Venezuela, a situation raising concerns about potential regional instability. The dispute centers on Washington’s increasingly stringent economic and military actions targeting the South American nation.
Recently, the United States announced a naval blockade intended to halt Venezuelan oil exports, building on an existing significant naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea. The Trump administration alleges that revenue from oil sales is funding “narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.”
During the emergency meeting – convened at the request of Venezuela with the support of both Moscow and Beijing, permanent members of the Security Council – the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasili Nebenzia, denounced the U.S. actions as a violation of international law. “The acts committed by the United States run counter to all fundamental norms of international law,” Nebenzia stated, characterizing the blockade as “a flagrant act of aggression.” He added, “Washington’s responsibility is also evident in the catastrophic consequences of this cowboy attitude.”
China echoed those sentiments, with its representative, Sun Lei, declaring, “China opposes all acts of unilateralism and intimidation and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity.”
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, defended his country’s actions, asserting, “The United States will do everything in its power to protect our hemisphere, our borders, and the American people.” Waltz reiterated accusations leveled by President Trump that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a fugitive wanted by U.S. justice and the leader of the foreign terrorist organization Cartel de los Soles.
Venezuela’s representative, Samuel Moncada, described Washington’s actions as “the greatest extortion known in our history,” claiming his country is being subjected to unprecedented pressure. “We are facing a power that acts outside international law, demanding that Venezuelans abandon our country and hand it over… It is the greatest extortion known in our history,” Moncada said.
The escalating tensions underscore the deepening geopolitical rivalry between the U.S., Russia, and China, with Venezuela increasingly becoming a focal point. The development could influence future diplomatic talks and potentially lead to further international intervention.
DZC (AFP, EFE)
