UN Chief Warns US Venezuela Raid Sets “Dangerous Precedent”

United Nations, Jan 2026 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep alarm on Saturday over the US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, calling it “a dangerous precedent” with potentially serious regional implications.

Guterres’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the Secretary-General is concerned that the raid violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter. “Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” Dujarric said.

The spokesperson emphasized that Guterres is urging “inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law” and reiterated the importance of respecting international law. “He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” Dujarric added.

The operation, carried out by US Delta Force units in an early morning strike, targeted a Venezuelan army base. US officials confirmed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken onto a US warship and transported to New York, where federal charges related to “narco-terrorism” have been filed.

“They’re on a ship, and they’ll be heading into New York,” US President Donald Trump told Fox News. “They went by helicopter on a nice flight. I’m sure they loved it.”

The raid caps months of US military buildup near Venezuela and comes amid longstanding accusations from Washington that Maduro’s government is involved in drug trafficking and sends criminal gangs into the US.

Guterres’s warning underscores concerns that unilateral military interventions against sovereign nations, even under the pretext of combating crime, can destabilize regions and undermine international norms. The Secretary-General continues to call for diplomacy and lawful resolution of disputes in line with the UN Charter.

The UN chief’s statement reflects the body’s insistence on adherence to international law and highlights growing global apprehension over the consequences of direct military action by powerful states against other nations’ leadership.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)