The US and Venezuela are in a war of words at the UN Security council following America's seizure of ships off Venezuela's coast. Venezuela's ambassador strongly condemned the U.S. actions, labeling them as extrajudicial executions and a military blockade intended to destabilize the country.

New York

At an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, the United States defended its recent seizures of oil tankers off Venezuela's coast, arguing that the vessels fund the Maduro government and criminal groups. The U.S. ambassador described the tankers as a key economic resource for what it called an illegitimate regime and accused them of supporting narco-terrorist activities.

Venezuela's ambassador strongly condemned the U.S. actions, labeling them as extrajudicial executions and a military blockade intended to destabilize the country. Several nations, including Russia, China, Cuba, and Colombia, voiced support for Venezuela, while Panama and Guyana adopted a more neutral stance.

U.S., Venezuela in war of words at UNSC over military strikes

Addressing an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, the United States ambassador to the UN justified the seizing of oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. The reality of the situation is that sanctioned oil tankers operate as the primary economic lifeline for Maduro and his illegitimate regime. The sanctioned tankers also fund the narco-terrorist group Cartel de los Soles. Maduro is responsible for trafficking, using these resources and using these profits into both the United States and Europe. Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, also addressing the council, called the U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean extrajudicial executions of civilian noncombatants, meant to not only divide his country, but the region as a whole. On the oil tankers being seized, he said this. So I would like to ask, what right does the United States government has to appropriate, to date, almost 4 million barrels of Venezuelan oil? This alleged naval blockade is essentially a military act aimed at laying siege to the Venezuelan nation, degrading its economic and military apparatus, weakening its social and political cohesion, and causing internal chaos to facilitate aggression by external forces. That is, it's an armed attack. Russia, China, Cuba, and Colombia, just a few of the countries that spoke during the meeting that defended Venezuela. But Panama and Guyana, from the region, have a more contentious relationship with President Nicolas Maduro, and took a more neutral position on the U.S. actions. Gabriel Zando, Al Jazeera, at the United Nations in New York.

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