The United Nations on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the future of Venezuela following the United States’ capture of President Nicolas Maduro, warning that the operation undermines fundamental principles of international law.
In a statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the U.S. action violated the principle that states must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another country.
“It is clear that the operation undermined a fundamental principle of international law,” the statement said, adding that such actions risk setting a dangerous precedent globally.
While acknowledging what it described as the Maduro government’s “appalling human rights record,” the UN cautioned that foreign military intervention could have serious and far-reaching consequences.
“We fear that the current instability and further militarization in the country resulting from the U.S. intervention will only make the situation worse,” the statement said.
The UN stressed that Venezuela’s future must be decided by its own people, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and the right to self-determination.
“The future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone, with full respect for their human rights, including the right to self-determination, and sovereignty over their lives and their resources,” it added.
Venezuela has been mired in political and economic crisis for more than a decade, marked by hyperinflation, widespread shortages, and mass migration. President Maduro has faced international criticism over alleged human rights abuses, election irregularities, and the suppression of political opposition. The latest U.S. action has heightened tensions in the region and prompted renewed debate over the legality and consequences of external intervention in sovereign states.
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