January 4, 2026 | 01:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The UN Security Council will meet on Monday, January 5, 2026, to discuss the US attack on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. This was announced by the Somali presidency of the Council, as reported by Arab News on Saturday.
The emergency meeting, scheduled for 10:00 a.m., was requested by Venezuela and forwarded by Colombia, diplomatic sources said.
Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats said, as reported by Al Arabiya.
The UN Security Council has met twice—in October and December—due to escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would lead Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."
It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela.
Venezuela: 'A Colonial War'
Venezuela's Ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, wrote to the UN Security Council on Saturday. “This is a colonial war aimed at destroying our republican form of government, freely chosen by our people, and at imposing a puppet government that allows the plundering of our natural resources, including the world’s largest oil reserves.”
Moncada said the US had violated Article 2 of the UN Charter, which states, “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said the US military action in Venezuela last night set a “dangerous precedent.”
“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,” Dujarric said.
The Trump administration has for months targeted vessels it claims are involved in drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela and the Pacific coast of Latin America, despite the lack of evidence.
The US has increased its military presence in the region and declared a blockade of all vessels subject to US sanctions, last month intercepting two tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil.
In October, the US justified its actions as consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which requires the Security Council to be immediately notified of any action taken by countries in self-defense against an armed attack.
“This is not regime change this is justice,” US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz claimed at X on Saturday.
“Maduro was an indicted, illegitimate dictator that led a declared Narco-terrorism organization responsible for killing American citizens.”
US forces kidnapped and airlifted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, out of Venezuela on Saturday morning in what US President Donald Trump described as a dramatic overnight operation.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment Saturday morning, accusing Maduro and Flores of smuggling “tons of cocaine” into the United States, along with other alleged crimes.
Critics warned that the raid violated international law, bypassed the US Congress, and risked further instability across Venezuela and the wider region.
Read: Trump Doubts Venezuela Opposition Can Lead After Maduro Ousted
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