Venezuela has accused the United States of waging an unofficial war against its government, warning the UN Security Council that the Caribbean nation could be the “first target” in Washington’s plan for regional dominance.
Venezuela’s UN ambassador, Samuel Moncada, addressed the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday, highlighting what he described as “ongoing US aggression” against his country. Moncada claimed that recent US military actions and a naval blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers are part of a broader strategy outlined in Washington’s National Security Strategy, reflecting ambitions across Latin America.
US Naval Blockade and Oil Seizures
Earlier this month, the White House imposed a naval blockade targeting Venezuelan oil tankers under US sanctions. Moncada condemned the move as a “military act aimed at laying siege to the Venezuelan nation.” He said US forces have seized at least two oil tankers, confiscating roughly 4 million barrels of oil, calling the operation “a robbery carried out by military force” without congressional approval, in violation of both international and domestic law.**
Washington Defends Actions
US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, defended the blockade as a law enforcement measure carried out by the US Coast Guard under existing sanctions. He argued that Venezuelan oil revenues fund drug cartels, which the Trump administration has identified as the “single most serious threat” in Latin America. Waltz also noted that US authorities have designated Venezuelan criminal networks, including the “Cartel de los Soles,” as terrorist organizations, claiming they support President Nicolás Maduro’s government and fuel organized crime.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, calling them a pretext for “regime change.” Moncada told the UN that the real motive behind US actions is control over Venezuela’s oil, minerals, and land. “Today, the masks have come off,” he said. “It is not drugs, it is not security, it is not freedom. It is oil, it is mines, and it is land.”
International Concerns
Russia’s UN ambassador echoed concerns, warning that US intervention in Venezuela could set a dangerous precedent for military actions in other Latin American countries. Moncada asserted that the US aims to divide the continent “piece by piece” to consolidate control over the region’s strategic resources.
