South African officials have urged United Nations (UN) to act after US operation in Venezuela. The SA Government has called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently convene over the involvement of the United States (US) in large-scale military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of the President of Venezuela – Nicolas Maduro along with his wife.
In a press statement issued by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation on Saturday, Jan 03, 2025; South Africa called on the body charged with maintaining international peace and security to take note of the unlawful invasion of a sovereign state, which cautioned that the unilateral force could deepen the crisis more.
The statement submitted by them stated that, “Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among the nations.”
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation mentioned that the South Africa considers the actions taken by the US as a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations. It mandates that all member states refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
Furthermore, the Charter does not authorise external military intervention in matters that are essentially taking place within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation.
Why has US Caught President of Venezuela?
With the beginning of New Year, in January 2026, the US military has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife – Cilia Flores during a large-scale strike on Caracas known as Operation Absolute Resolve.
The operation has involved elite units such as Delta Force and significant aerial support that led to extraction of Maduro to the United States, where he is currently in custody in New York.
Primary Reasons Cited by the US Government
Narco-Terrorism Charges:
The US Justice Department unsealed a new indictment charging Maduro and his inner circle with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation and weapons possession. US alleges that Maduro led the ‘Cartel of the Suns’, a group of high-ranking officials who supposedly flooded American soil with cocaine.
Illegitimacy and Human Rights:
The US and several allies have not recognised Maduro as the legitimate president since 2019, following elections widely condemned as fraudulent, including the 2024 presidential election. The administration also cited the long history of human rights violations regime and its role in regional instability.
National Security and Migration:
President Donald Trump linked the operation to efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs and “savage” gangs like Tren de Aragua into the US and claimed that these posed a direct threat to American communities.
Oil Interests:
During a press conference following the capture, President Trump explicitly stated a desire to reclaim American oil interests and “run” Venezuela’s oil industry for a period to cover the costs of the transition.
While the US frames this as a ‘law enforcement action’ against a ‘narco-state’, international critics and bodies like the United Nations have questioned the legality of the operation, viewing it as a move to secure natural resources and enforce regime change.
These resources detail the US rationale for targeting Venezuela, such as its oil reserves, regional security under the “Donroe Doctrine” and domestic policy implications.