January 5, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
NEW YORK — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed an urgent emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on January 5, 2026, issuing stark warnings over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Venezuela following a controversial U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture and detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. forces.
Guterres told the Council that he was “deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability” in Venezuela and the far-reaching regional and international repercussions of recent events particularly after the United States’ January 3 operation in Caracas and other parts of the country. He emphasised that the future of Venezuela remains uncertain and that global peace and security could be jeopardised if current tensions continue to escalate.
Central to the Secretary-General’s message was a firm reminder of the United Nations Charter’s prohibitions on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of states, a principle he underscored as fundamental to maintaining international peace. According to Guterres, the circumstances surrounding the U.S. action have raised serious concerns that the rules governing the use of force had not been respected, setting what he described as a potentially dangerous precedent for how relations among states are conducted in the future.
Delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Guterres’ statement implored all Venezuelan actors to engage in inclusive, democratic dialogue that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people. He also appealed to neighbouring states and the wider international community to support efforts that foster a peaceful resolution, rather than enable further conflict or destabilisation.
The emergency meeting took place against a backdrop of global debate and diplomatic tension, with several countries expressing alarm over the U.S. operation and its implications for sovereignty and international norms, while Washington has defended its actions as a legitimate law-enforcement measure. Guterres’ remarks reinforced the UN’s role in advocating for respect of legal principles and avoidance of actions that could entrench division or fuel wider instability across the region.
As Maduro awaits court proceedings in the United States, Guterres stressed that the power of international law — not force — must prevail as the world watches one of the most significant geopolitical flashpoints of the year unfold.