(MENAFN) Russia and China voiced strong opposition on Friday to the increasing US military presence in the southern Caribbean, particularly off the coast of Venezuela, arguing that such actions jeopardize the peace and stability of the region.

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed concern over what he described as unprecedented pressure on Venezuela, a sovereign state that has faced continuous threats of military intervention. Nebenzia emphasized that the escalating US military activities just a few kilometers from Venezuela’s shores represent a direct threat to regional and international peace.

"The situation is becoming more acute every day," Nebenzia remarked, revealing that over 4,000 US military personnel are currently stationed in the area, increasing tensions in the region. He dismissed US claims about a so-called "cartel de los soles," an alleged Venezuelan terror organization purportedly involved in drug trafficking, as unfounded. "An excellent subject for a Hollywood blockbuster," Nebenzia quipped, “but these assertions are not underpinned by facts at all.” He accused Washington of using such unsubstantiated claims to justify its military presence.

The Russian ambassador condemned the recent strikes on civilian vessels, calling them violations of international law and human rights. He also criticized what he described as the US’s attitude of "American exceptionalism," which allows the country to act with impunity. Nebenzia urged the US to end its escalating actions, warning that continuing down this path could lead to serious destabilization in the region.

China’s Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, echoed these sentiments, denouncing what he described as the US’s "unilateral and excessive enforcement operations" against foreign vessels in international waters. Fu argued that such actions infringe on the right to life and other basic human rights and could threaten the freedom of navigation in the affected waters. He called for the US to cease these activities immediately to prevent further escalation of the situation. “China opposes any actions that violate the principles of the UN Charter and undermine the sovereignty and security of other nations,” Fu stated.

In defense of the US’s stance, John Kelley, the US Political Counsellor, reiterated Washington’s justification for its actions, claiming the US is targeting drug cartels operating out of Venezuela. "We are going to put an end to the drug cartels that are flooding American streets with their product and killing Americans," Kelley emphasized, further condemning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Venezuela’s UN Ambassador, Samuel Moncada, responded sharply to the US narrative, calling it "a disinformation campaign" designed to criminalize Venezuela and its people. He accused the US of using fabricated reasons to justify its aggressive stance, which he argued puts the entire region in danger. Moncada criticized what he perceived as the US's obsession with controlling global oil resources, particularly Venezuela’s vast reserves. "The United States promotes endless war with a machine of propaganda and a true industry of death and lies," he declared.

Moncada concluded by reaffirming Venezuela’s commitment to its sovereignty, vowing that the country would continue its efforts to preserve peace and defend its right to self-determination. "Venezuela will continue to win peace, exercising its full sovereignty and guaranteeing the right to life," he declared.

This exchange at the UN highlights the intensifying geopolitical tensions surrounding Venezuela and the broader Latin American region, as global powers continue to stake their positions on the ongoing crisis.

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