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CARACAS, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government on Thursday called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address U.S. military actions in recent weeks in the South American country's waters.
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Venezuela made the request in a letter addressed to Russia's UN Ambassador and Council President Vasily Nebenzya, which accuses the administration of US President Donald Trump of seeking to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and of threatening “peace, security and stability at the regional and international level.”
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Maduro's government also expressed hope for an “armed attack” on Venezuela in a “very short time.”
The request comes a day after members of Congress voted against legislation that could limit Trump's ability to use lethal military force against drug traffickers. The US military has so far carried out four deadly strikes in the Caribbean since it beefed up its naval forces in what Trump has declared an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
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However, the Maduro government claims that the White House is only using the drug trade as a pretext for its operation.
“The ulterior motive remains the same that has characterized the actions of the United States of America towards Venezuela for more than 26 years: to advance its policy of ‘regime change’ in order to seize control of the vast natural resources found in Venezuelan territory,” Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote in a letter.
Venezuela's request does not mention the nationality of the 21 people killed in four strikes on boats the US said were carrying drugs. But by mentioning the four strikes, the Venezuelan government made its clearest acknowledgment of the first attack, something it initially doubted, claiming that a video released by Trump showing the attack was created by artificial intelligence.
The Trump administration said three of the targeted boats sailed from Venezuela.
Russia has long been an ally of Venezuela.
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