New York: Venezuela conflict, from Security Council debates to Maduro’s U.S. court appearance.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold its first meeting in 2026 on the US attack on Venezuela after the New Year holidays at 10 a.m. Monday, New York time, and at noon on the same day, Maduro and his wife will appear in Manhattan federal court.
After months of tension with Venezuela, and coinciding with the anniversary of the overthrow of the government of Manuel Antonio Noriega in Panama, the administration of US President Donald Trump kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a massive military raid on the morning of Saturday, January 3, 2026, corresponding to 13th of the Islamic calendar, and transferred them to the United States for trial.
According to the Venezuelan Minister of Defense, US soldiers killed most of their security guards and some civilian employees when they kidnapped Maduro and his wife, bringing the death toll to more than 80.
The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, entitled “Threat to International Peace and Security,” is being held at the request of Venezuela and other countries, with the support of Russia and China, two permanent members of the council, for diplomats to discuss the surprise but predictable attack in the wake of the escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas.
The UN Security Council, which has been unable to resolve international crises over the past 80 years due to the veto power of the five permanent members of the council, is not expected to reach any specific conclusion regarding the US attack on Venezuela with the presence of the United States on the council.
The 15-member UN Security Council, in which the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom have veto rights, has clearly proven its inefficiency to the world in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the US and Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran this summer.
Due to the veto power of some powers, especially the United States, the UN Security Council is unable to issue a condemnation resolution on paper, even in some international developments, especially wars.
The Council’s inability to make decisions to end crises and wars has made the 193 UN members more determined than ever to reform the Security Council’s structure, although there is no sign of the five permanent members being prepared to cede or limit their veto power.