Ambassador Samuel Moncada, Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations, denounced this Wednesday before UN Secretary-General António Guterres the unilateral armed aggression perpetrated by the United States against Venezuela on January 3, 2016, as well as the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and First Lady Cilia Flores.

During a bilateral meeting at UN headquarters in New York, Moncada presented a formal complaint for the flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law, describing the events as “a crime of aggression, an act of war, a crime against peace, and a crime against humanity.”

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The Venezuelan ambassador detailed that the US military operation included the deployment of aircraft, combat helicopters, and special forces in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, causing dozens of deaths and numerous injuries among civilians and military personnel. He also pointed out that the attacks caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including ports, airports, medical supply depots, homes, and telecommunications systems.

Moncada noted that this military deployment “dates back to at least August 2025, when the buildup of US military force in the Caribbean began,” and emphasized that the operation reached its climax in the early morning of January 3 with a direct incursion into Venezuelan territory.

A central aspect of the complaint was the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the First Lady through the use of military force.

The diplomat emphasized that this act constitutes a “clear violation of the immunities enjoyed by sitting Heads of State,” recognized by both customary international law and the jurisprudence of international tribunals.

In his presentation, Moncada lamented that the UN had not played a more active role in preventing the aggression, despite repeated warnings from the Venezuelan government about the growing threat.

Nevertheless, he extended a formal invitation to the Secretary-General to visit Venezuela in order to witness firsthand the consequences of the attacks, the state of political and social peace, and the country’s constitutional continuity.

Should Guterres be unable to make the visit personally, he requested the appointment of a Personal Envoy to verify on the ground the full supply of food and medicine and to assess the challenges arising from the armed aggression.

For his part, the UN Secretary-General acknowledged that the US military incursion represents a “flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law,” and warned that it “sets a dangerous precedent for international relations.”

Guterres also expressed concern about the repercussions in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region declared a Zone of Peace, and reaffirmed Venezuela’s permanent sovereignty over its natural resources, emphasizing that “Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people.”

The Secretary-General also thanked the Venezuelan government for the invitation and pledged to consider it, offering his good offices to facilitate a national dialogue in the country.

The meeting between Moncada and Guterres is part of Venezuela’s diplomatic efforts to bring acts of foreign aggression to the attention of the international community and to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in a context marked by growing tensions in the region.

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