South Africa Demands UN Emergency Meeting Over U.S. Venezuela Attack

(MENAFN) South Africa has issued an urgent appeal for the UN Security Council to convene emergency sessions following a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicholas Maduro and his spouse.

"Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations," South Africa's Foreign Ministry declared in a Saturday statement.

Pretoria expressed severe alarm over the unfolding crisis, characterizing Washington's actions as a clear breach of the United Nations Charter. The charter explicitly requires all member nations to avoid threatening or employing force against another state's territorial sovereignty or political autonomy.

The ministry emphasized that the charter provides no legal basis for external military involvement in issues falling under a sovereign nation's internal affairs.

"History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis," the statement said.

President Donald Trump confirmed earlier that Washington executed a "large-scale strike" against Venezuela, resulting in the seizure of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were subsequently transported out of the country.

Trump indicated the mission proceeded "in conjunction with US law enforcement."

Speaking later to media, Trump suggested Washington might take an active role in determining Venezuela's trajectory after Maduro's ouster.

US authorities have charged Maduro and Flores with numerous criminal offenses, including narco-terrorism, alleging the president's participation in drug trafficking operations. Caracas has consistently rejected these allegations.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated Caracas remains uninformed about Maduro's location and insisted on verification that he remains alive.

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