UN spokesperson: Secretary-General 'deeply concerned' about U.S. operation in Venezuela and urges adherence to international law

The United Nations' spokesperson said Monday that Secretary-General António Guterres is "deeply concerned" about a U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3 and warned that the action raised serious questions about respect for international law and the U.N. Charter.

In remarks read on the Secretary-General's behalf by Under‑Secretary‑General Rosemarie DeCarlo, the spokesperson said the SG called on Venezuelan actors to engage in an "inclusive democratic dialogue" and urged neighboring states and the international community to act "in a spirit of solidarity" and in accordance with international legal obligations.

"The rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the military intervention of January 3," the spokesperson said, summarizing the SG's statement and adding that it is still possible to prevent "a wider and more destructive conflagration." The spokesperson repeated that the Secretary‑General's office had not yet received an official communication from the United States laying out a legal justification for the operation.

Reporters pressed the U.N. on whether it recognizes Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's president; Gabriel asked directly whether the U.N. recognizes Maduro. The spokesperson replied that the United Nations "is not in the business of recognizing governments" and noted that the credentials of the Venezuelan delegation at U.N. Headquarters "have not been challenged" (per the transcript).

The briefing also touched on allegations raised in the Council meeting that the Maduro regime has links to drug trafficking and the financing of violent groups. Mr. Klein cited a U.N. panel report and asked why the weekend statement did not explicitly name those allegations; the spokesperson pointed to international conventions on transnational crime and said those legal tools "work best when they are used by the international community in international cooperation," without detailing specific enforcement steps taken in this instance.

The Secretary‑General was en route back to New York at the time of the briefing and was expected to meet senior advisers; the spokesperson said the office would provide updates on any direct contacts with member‑state leaders as they occur.

Next steps: the U.N. said it will continue to press for humanitarian access and to monitor developments. The spokesperson reiterated the call for all parties to respect the Charter and for wider restraint to avoid escalation.