Amidst escalating tensions with the United States, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly called for United Nations intervention in venezuela, warning of potential armed conflict stemming from former President Trump’s aggressive policies toward the Maduro government. The move comes after Trump authorized a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers and the seizure of the skipper‘s cargo, actions Mexico’s leader characterized as harmful to the Venezuelan people. Sheinbaum’s appeal underscores growing regional concern and reflects Mexico’s stated commitment to peaceful resolution, despite increasing pressure from Washington and a deteriorating human rights situation within Venezuela signaled by the recent departure of the UN High commissioner for Human Rights from the country.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called on the United Nations to intervene in the escalating conflict between the United States and Venezuela, warning of potential bloodshed. The plea comes as tensions rise following a move by former President Donald Trump to impose a total blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers. This action further intensifies the U.S. government’s pressure on the administration of Nicolás Maduro.
Sheinbaum issued the call at the start of her daily press conference, stating, “Let [Nations United] assume its role, which has not been seen, let it assume its role to avoid any bloodshed and to always seek a peaceful solution to conflicts.” The president’s remarks signal a growing concern over the potential for further instability in the region.
The president’s involvement in the dispute marks a more direct and forceful statement than she has previously made, though she reiterated Mexico’s long-standing policy of non-intervention and respect for national sovereignty. “Beyond opinions about the Venezuelan regime and the presidency of Maduro, Mexico’s position must always be ‘no’ to intervention, ‘no’ to foreign interference, peaceful resolution of conflicts and dialogue for peace,” she said. Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of national sovereignty, a position she has consistently maintained in response to threats of military action, including those made by Trump regarding potential troop deployments to Mexico to combat drug trafficking.
Mexico has also offered to host talks between Venezuela and the United States, seeking a diplomatic solution to the growing crisis. “We can be a meeting point if the parties consider it so. And if not, we will look for mediators to avoid any conflict in the region,” Sheinbaum stated. She urged Mexican citizens in Venezuela to contact the embassy for assistance, expressing hope that the situation will not escalate further. The president also condemned Trump’s decision to block Venezuelan oil tankers and seize the cargo of the Skipper, which was bound for Cuba and China, calling the action detrimental to the Venezuelan people. “The blockade seems to be against a government, but it is against the people, like the blockade against Cuba. Beyond the positions that [Trump] may have [regarding the Maduro Government], a blockade harms the people,” she said. Sheinbaum confirmed she has not recently spoken with Maduro.
The call for UN action comes a day after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, announced his withdrawal from Venezuela. Turk, who had been declared persona non grata by the Venezuelan parliament, stated that “all possible efforts” had been made to continue operating in the country, “requesting visas and dialoguing with the authorities, but without success.” He noted that his office no longer has any personnel within Venezuela. His departure from Caracas confirms the Venezuelan government’s growing rift with international organizations, which have increasingly criticized the Maduro regime’s human rights record.
