UN Secretary-General Worried About Instability in Venezuela and the Legality of the United States Operation

JAKARTA - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday expressed concern about the possible increase in instability in Venezuela after the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.

"I am very concerned about the possible increase in instability in the country, its potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set on how inter-state relations are conducted," Guterres said in a statement delivered to the council by the head of political affairs at the United Nations, Rosemary DiCarlo, reported Al Arabiya from AFP (6/1).

Furthermore, Secretary-General Guterres called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive and democratic dialogue, adding: "I welcome and stand ready to support all efforts aimed at helping the Venezuelan people find a peaceful way forward."

He also expressed concern that the US operation to arrest President Maduro in Caracas on Saturday did not respect international legal rules.

The 15-nation Security Council met at the UN headquarters in New York a few hours before President Maduro was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on drug charges, including a drug terrorism conspiracy.

President Maduro denied any criminal involvement and said he remained Venezuela's president.

Colombia, which requested the meeting on Monday, condemned the US operation as a "clear violation" of Venezuela's sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.

"There is no justification at all, under any circumstances, for the use of unilateral force to carry out acts of aggression," Colombia's ambassador to the United Nations, Leonor Zalabata Torres, told the council.

"This action is a serious violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations," he added.

Meanwhile, legal experts say the US operation is illegal because it lacks the authorization of the UN Security Council, has not received Venezuelan approval, and is not a self-defense against an armed attack.

However, the United States cannot be held accountable for any violations by the UN Security Council, which is tasked with maintaining international peace and security. The Uncle Sam state has a veto - along with Russia, China, Britain, and France - so it can block any action.

It is known that the UN Charter states that member states "must refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

President Trump has threatened to carry out another attack if Venezuela does not cooperate in opening its oil industry and stopping the flow of drugs.