Brazil, Russia and China harshly criticized the United States during a meeting at the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday (23). Moscow and Beijing have called the U.S. government’s military and economic pressure on Venezuela “cowboy behavior” and “intimidation.” Brazilian Ambassador Sérgio Danese claimed during the meeting that Washington was violating the United Nations Charter.
“The acts committed by the United States violate all fundamental norms of international law,” said Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia. The diplomat called US military operations near the Venezuelan coast “blatant aggression.” “Washington’s responsibility is also clear in the catastrophic consequences of this cowboy attitude,” he added.
Beijing expressed similar criticism through China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sun Lei. “China opposes all acts of unilateralism and intimidation, and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity,” he said.
The emergency Security Council meeting was requested by Venezuela following increased US attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea. Since August, the United States has mobilized a war fleet in the region, with bombing raids on ships that have killed at least 105 people.
Washington also recently announced a naval blockade to prevent the export of Venezuelan oil. US President Donald Trump claims that Caracas uses the sale of this product to finance “narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders and kidnappings”.
Venezuela rejects the accusations and says the United States wants to overthrow its president, Nicolas Maduro, to appropriate the country’s natural resources.
Contempt for the Charter of the United Nations
Brazil once again criticized the attitude of the United States based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. During the Security Council session, Brazilian Ambassador Sérgio Danese said the actions of US forces “in the vicinity of Venezuela,” in addition to the “recently announced naval blockade,” violated United Nations principles.
“Brazil invites both countries to a genuine dialogue, carried out in good faith and without coercion. As President Lula has already stated publicly, his government will be ready to collaborate, if necessary and with the mutual consent of the United States and Venezuela. Brazil will also be ready to support any effort by the Secretary General in the same direction,” the diplomat reiterated.
On Saturday (20), at the opening of the Mercosur summit in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that an “armed intervention” by the United States in Venezuela would be “a humanitarian catastrophe.” “The real threats to our sovereignty today come in the form of war, anti-democratic forces and organized crime. More than four decades after the Falklands War, the American continent is once again haunted by the military presence of an extra-regional power,” he said.
Last Thursday (18), Lula had already shown himself willing to play the role of mediator in favor of a “peaceful solution” between Washington and Caracas to avoid a conflict on the American continent, evoking a possible conversation with Trump.
“The greatest extortion in history”
Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, denounced to the Security Council that the sending of warships to the Caribbean and the naval blockade by the United States represent “the greatest extortion known in our history.” “We are faced with a power that acts outside international law, demanding that we Venezuelans abandon our country and return it to them,” he added.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Khaled Khiari assured during the meeting that Secretary-General António Guterres “stands ready to support all diplomatic efforts, including the exercise of his good offices, if requested by both parties.”
After the meeting, during a visit to a trade fair in Caracas, Maduro said Venezuela was receiving “unconditional support” from the UN Security Council. The Chavista leader stressed that “no one will be able to defeat” his country.
These statements were made on the same day that Caracas passed a law against piracy and naval blockades. Unanimously approved by the National Assembly, the measure provides for prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who encourages or finances these and other international crimes.
RFI with agencies
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