United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has urged the United States and Venezuela to show restraint and engage in dialogue after reports emerged of American military strikes on boats in the Caribbean, operations Washington claims targeted drug trafficking routes.
Speaking at an emergency session of the UN Security Council, convened at Venezuela’s request, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, warned that escalating tensions could endanger regional peace and stability.
“We call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid actions that may inflame the situation further, and prioritize dialogue,” Ambassador Ahmad said.
The meeting was requested by Venezuela through a letter to Russia’s UN Ambassador and Council President, Vassily Nebenzia, accusing the administration of US President Donald Trump of attempting to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro’s government and posing a threat to both regional and international peace.
Venezuelan officials claimed they were anticipating “an armed attack” in the near future.
In his address, Ambassador Ahmad voiced concern over the rising tensions in the Caribbean, saying Pakistan believes peace cannot be achieved through confrontation or “zero-sum approaches.”
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“In an increasingly polarized world, it is crucial to reaffirm the centrality and inviolability of the UN Charter and its core principles,” he said. “Actions contrary to these principles set dangerous precedents and risk destabilizing entire regions.”
He called for good-faith dialogue and international cooperation rooted in shared responsibility, urging all sides to use available diplomatic mechanisms, including the UN Secretary-General’s good offices and relevant regional platforms.
“We encourage constructive engagement under international law,” he added, reiterating Pakistan’s call for peaceful coexistence and cooperation to ensure the Caribbean remains a “Zone of Peace.”
Briefing Security Council members, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča said that the US operations, conducted between September 2 and October 3, had further strained relations in the region.
He noted that Venezuela remains on high alert following the deployments and that President Maduro has mobilized 4.5 million members of the Bolivarian Militia to support the country’s armed forces.
Venezuela’s UN envoy Samuel Moncada told the Council that the US actions and rhetoric indicated a real possibility of an imminent armed attack. He urged the Council to recognize the situation as a threat to international peace and to adopt a resolution reaffirming Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While Russia and China backed Venezuela’s position, most of the 15-member Council took a cautious line, emphasizing de-escalation and adherence to the UN Charter’s principles of sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution.
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Defending Washington’s actions, US delegate John Kelley said the operations were part of President Trump’s determination to “use the full power of America to eliminate drug cartels, wherever they operate.”
Kelley reiterated that the United States does not recognize Maduro’s government, labeling him a “narcoterrorist”, a charge Caracas firmly rejects.
Russia’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the United States for what he called a “cowboy-style” approach, accusing Washington of acting first and justifying later. He warned that Venezuela had good reason to fear the situation could escalate into direct military confrontation.
