At the UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday (23), Venezuelan ambassador Samuel Moncada accused the United States of imposing the 'largest extortion' on Venezuela through sanctions and military pressure in the Caribbean. Russia and China criticized the American 'cowboy attitude,' while Brazil advocated for dialogue without coercion and stated that the naval blockade violates the UN Charter.
The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, requested by Venezuela with support from Russia and China, took place on December 23, 2025, amid escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington. Venezuelan ambassador Samuel Moncada denounced that the US is subjecting Venezuela to 'the largest extortion in our history,' referring to economic sanctions and American military presence in the Caribbean since August. He accused Washington of acting outside international law to force the handover of the country and its oil reserves, the world's largest.
Russia and China expressed solidarity. Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described the naval blockade as 'a flagrant aggression' that violates international norms, criticizing the US 'cowboy attitude' and its catastrophic consequences. Chinese representative Sun Lei stated that Beijing opposes acts of unilateralism and intimidation, supporting Venezuelan sovereignty.
US ambassador Mike Waltz countered, saying the US will do 'everything in its power to protect our hemisphere, our borders, and the American people.' He reiterated accusations that Nicolás Maduro leads the Cartel de los Soles, an alleged narcoterrorist organization, and announced maximum sanctions to block oil revenues used for illicit activities. The White House raised the reward for information on Maduro to $50 million.
Brazil, through ambassador Sérgio Danese, condemned the blockade as a violation of the UN Charter, advocating for peaceful and multilateral solutions. Danese emphasized that unilateral coercive measures, especially with threats of force, contradict Latin America's peace traditions, and offered collaboration for genuine dialogue. UN Deputy Secretary-General Khaled Khiari reported that António Guterres is willing to mediate diplomatic efforts if requested.
Venezuela denies involvement in narcotrafficking and accuses the US of seeking to overthrow Maduro to control the oil. Recently, the US captured the tanker Skipper and announced a total blockade of sanctioned ships on December 16, intensifying the economic siege.