UN Security Council to discuss escalating Venezuela crisis amid growing military tensions

Friday 19 December 2025 - 14:20

By: Dakir Madiha

UN Security Council to discuss escalating Venezuela crisis amid growing military tensions

The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting to address the deepening crisis in Venezuela, following mounting tensions between Caracas and Washington. The session, scheduled at UN headquarters, was requested by the Venezuelan government to discuss what it has termed “ongoing United States aggression.” Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, confirmed the meeting.

Rising military operations in Venezuela

The call for the session comes as the United States intensifies military actions around Venezuelan waters. Since September, American forces have carried out nearly 30 operations against maritime targets in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 100 deaths. The Pentagon claims the attacks targeted drug-smuggling vessels, though concrete evidence has not been released.

Earlier this month, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude near the country’s coast. Caracas denounced the seizure as an “act of international piracy,” accusing Washington of attempting to strangle its economy through force. President Donald Trump subsequently announced a complete blockade on all Venezuelan oil shipments, describing Venezuela as “fully surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in South America.”

International reactions and diplomatic warnings

Global powers have expressed alarm over the escalating standoff. Russia issued a stark warning to the United States, saying further intervention in Venezuela could have “unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere.” China backed Venezuela’s request for the UN meeting, urging respect for national sovereignty and opposition to unilateral sanctions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to call for de-escalation and adherence to the principles of international law. In a statement from his office, Guterres emphasized the need for restraint and dialogue to prevent the crisis from destabilizing the region.

The meeting, expected to gather sharp exchanges among Security Council members, will test the global community’s ability to navigate one of the most politically charged confrontations in the Western Hemisphere in recent years.