An emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the U.S. military operation against Venezuela was held at U.N. headquarters in New York on the 5th (local time).
At the meeting, the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, and China and Russia showed opposing positions over the U.S. military's arrest and transfer of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse.
Michael Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, emphasized Maduro's alleged "narco-terrorism," saying, "He is a fugitive from justice and the leader of a brutal foreign terrorist organization."
He also cited the controversy over irregularities in the 2024 presidential vote count, asserting, "Maduro was an illegal president. For years, he was not the (legitimate) head of state."
Russia, on the other hand, said it "strongly condemns the U.S. armed aggression against Venezuela that violated all international legal norms," and urged that the Maduro couple be "released immediately."
China said the United States "trampled on Venezuela's sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests," adding, "We are deeply shocked by the United States' unilateral, illegal and hegemonic actions, and we strongly condemn them."
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern about Venezuela's instability in a statement at the Security Council's emergency meeting that day,
He said, "We are deeply concerned about the potential for further deterioration of instability within the country (Venezuela), the possible impact on the wider region, and the precedent this incident could set for how relations between states are conducted."