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United Nations Security Council Holds An Emergency Meeting To Discuss The U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Aired 10:05-10:35a ET

Aired January 05, 2026 - 10:05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: I want to break into this coverage because United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting right now

to discuss the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Let's listen in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to participate in this meeting.

Miss Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under Secretary General for the Political and Peace Building Affairs. Mr. Jeffrey Sachs, president of U.N. Sustainable

Development Solutions Network and Director of Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. And Miss Mercedes De Freitas, founder

and executive director of Transparencia Venezuela.

It's so decided. Security Council will now begin its consideration for item two of the agenda.

I now give the floor to Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo.

ROSEMARY DICARLO, U.N. UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL FOR THE POLITICAL AND PEACE BUILDING AFFAIRS: Thank you, Mr. President, today I'm going to deliver a

statement from Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who was not able to be here this morning.

Mr. President, members of the Security Council, we meet at a grave time following the three January United States military action in the Bolivarian

Republic of Venezuela. The broad outlines of the events of Saturday have been widely reported.

Early that day, U.S. forces were active across Caracas and in the northern states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. The extent of casualties resulting

from these actions remains undetermined.

In a statement on social media, on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the conduct of a, "Large scale strike against Venezuela and its

leader, President Nicolas Maduro."

[10:10:01]

During a press conference on Saturday, President Trump stated, we are -- and I quote again, "We are going to run the country until such time that we

can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." The government of Venezuela has characterized the United States action as a military

aggression carried out in civilian and military areas, and as a flagrant violation of the charter, posing a threat to international and regional

peace and security.

As we speak, President Maduro is being held in New York, accused by U.S. authorities, along with his wife Cilia Flores, of serious criminal

offenses. What is less certain is the immediate future of Venezuela, I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification the instability in the

country. The potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted.

Mr. President, the situation in Venezuela has been a matter of regional and international concern for many years now. Attention on the country only

grew following the contested presidential elections in July 2024.

The panel of electoral experts I appointed at the Venezuelan government's request to accompany the elections highlighted serious issues. We have

consistently called for the full transparency and the complete publication of the results of the elections.

As reported to the Council on 23rd December, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has cataloged serious violations. On three

January, Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez, invoked an emergency decree throughout the national territory extending additional security

powers to the government.

Mr. President, the latest developments follow a period of heightened tensions beginning in mid-August, as discussed in this council on two

previous occasions. I have consistently stressed the imperative of full respect by all for international law, including the Charter of the United

Nations, which provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.

I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the three January military action. The charter

enshrines the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

The maintenance of international peace and security depends on the continued commitment of all member states to adhere to all the provisions

of the charter.

Mr. President, Venezuela has experienced decades of internal instability and social and economic turmoil, democracy has been undermined, millions of

its people have fled the country. The situation is critical, but it is still possible to prevent a wider and more destructive conflagration.

I call on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive democratic dialog in which all sectors of society can determine their future. This entails

the full respect of human rights, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people.

I also urge Venezuela's neighbors and the international community, more broadly, to act in a spirit of solidarity and in adherence to the

principles laws and rules erected to promote peaceful coexistence.

I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward.

Mr. President, excellencies in situations as confused, as complex as the one we now face, it is important to stick to principles. Respect for the

U.N. Charter and all other applicable legal frameworks to safeguard peace and security, respect for the power. Principles of sovereignty, political

independence and territorial integrity of states, the prohibition of the threat or use of force. The power of the law must prevail. International

law contains tools to address issues such as illicit traffic in narcotics, disputes about resources and human rights concerns, this is the route we

need to take. Thank you, Mr. President.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank Mr. Carla for her briefings. I now give the floor to Mr. Jeffrey Sachs.

[10:15:08]

JEFFREY SACHS, PRESIDENT OF U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS NETWORK AND DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY:

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council. The issue before the Council today is not the character of the Government of

Venezuela. The issue is whether any member state by force, coercion or economic strangulation, has the right to determine Venezuela's political

future or to exercise control over its affairs. This question goes directly to Article 2, Section 4 of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the

threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, the Council must decide whether that prohibition

is to be upheld or abandoned. Abandoning it would carry consequences of the gravest kind.

Let me offer some background. Since 1947, the United States foreign policy has repeatedly employed force, covert action and political manipulation to

bring about regime change in other countries. This is a matter of carefully documented historical record.

In her book Covert Regime Change political scientist Lindsay O'Rourke documents 70 attempted us regime change operations between 1947 and 1989

alone, these practices did not end with the Cold War. Since 1989, major United States regime change operations undertaken without authorization by

the Security Council have included among the most consequential, Iraq 2003, Libya 2011, Syria beginning in 2011, Honduras 2009, Ukraine 2014 and

Venezuela from 2002 onward.

The methods employed are well established and well documented. They include open warfare, covert intelligence operations, instigation of unrest,

support for armed groups, manipulation of mass and social media, bribery of military and civilian officials, targeted assassinations, false flag

operations and economic warfare. These measures are illegal under the U.N. Charter, and they typically result in ongoing violence, lethal conflict,

political instability and deep suffering of the civilian population.

The recent U.S. record with respect to Venezuela is also clear. In April 2002, the U.S. knew of and approved an attempted coup against the

government. In the 2010s, the United States funded civil society groups actively engaged in anti-government protests. When the government cracked

down on the protest, the US followed with a series of sanctions.

In 2015, President Barack Obama declared Venezuela to be and I quote, "An unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign

policy of the United States."

In 2017, at a dinner with Latin American leaders on the margin of the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump openly discussed the option of the U.S.

invading Venezuela to overthrow the government. During 2017 to 2020 the United States imposed sweeping sanctions on the state oil company. Oil

production fell by 75 percent from 2016 to 2020 and the real GDP per capita declined by 62 percent.

The U.N. General Assembly has repeatedly voted overwhelmingly against such unilateral coercive measures under international law. Only the Security

Council has the authority to impose such measures.

On the 23rd of January, 2019, the United States unilaterally recognized Mr. Juan Guaido as interim president, and a few days later, froze approximately

$7 billion of Venezuelan sovereign assets held abroad, and gave the designated authority over certain of these assets. These actions form part

of a continuous us regime change effort spanning more than two decades.

In the past year, the United States has carried out bombing operations in seven countries, none of which were authorized by the U.N. Security Council

and none of which were undertaken in lawful self defense under the charter. The targeted countries include Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Yemen

and now Venezuela.

In the past month, President Trump has issued direct threats against six U.N. member states, including Colombia, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and,

of course, Venezuela.

Members of the Council are not called upon to judge Nicolas Maduro. They are not called upon to assess whether the recent U.S. attack and ongoing

naval quarantine results in freedom or in subjugation. Members of the Council are called upon to defend international law, and specifically the

U.N. Charter, the realist School of International Relations, articulated most brilliantly by John Mearsheimer, accurately describes the condition of

international anarchy as the tragedy of great power politics. Realism is therefore a description, not a solution for peace. Its own conclusion is

that anarchy leads to tragedy.

[10:20:42]

In the aftermath of World War One, the League of Nations was created to end the tragedy through the application of international law, yet the world's

leading nations failed to defend international law in the 1930s leading to renewed global war. The United Nations emerged from that catastrophe as

humanity's second great effort to place international law above international anarchy.

In the words of the charter, the U.N. was created, quote, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which, twice in our

lifetime, has brought untold sorrow to mankind. Given that we are in the nuclear age, failure cannot be repeated. Humanity would perish. There would

be no third chance.

To fulfill its responsibilities under the charter the Security Council should immediately affirm the following actions. The United States shall

immediately cease and desist from all explicit and implicit threats or use force against Venezuela, the United States shall terminate its naval

quarantine and all related coercive military measures undertaken in the absence of authorization by the U.N. Security Council, the United States

shall immediately withdraw its military forces from within and along the perimeter of Venezuela, including intelligence, naval, air and other

forward deployed assets positioned for coercive purposes. Venezuela shall adhere to the U.N. Charter and to the human rights protected in the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Secretary General I recommend, should immediately appoint a special envoy mandated to engage relevant Venezuelan and international stakeholders

and to report back to the Security Council within 14 days with recommendations consistent with the charter and the Security Council should

remain urgently seized of this matter, all member states should refrain from unilateral threats, coercive measures or armed actions undertaken

outside the authority of the U.N. Security Council.

In closing, Mr. President and distinguished members of the council, peace and the survival of humanity depend on whether the United Nations Charter

remains a living instrument of international law or is allowed to wither into irrelevance.

That is the choice before this Council today. Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank Mr. Sachs for his briefings and now give the floor to Mercedes De Freitas.

My apology. I now give the floor to Ms. Mercedes De Freitas.

MERCEDES DE FREITAS, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, = TRANSPARENCIA VENEZUELA: Good morning. I speak in Spanish.

DE FREITAS (through translator): Good morning ambassadors, representatives of states and governments. Thank you very much for giving me this

opportunity to speak.

Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

DE FREITAS: Good morning. I speak in Spanish.

DE FREITAS (through translator): Good morning, ambassadors, representatives of heads of state and government. Thank you to enable me to tell you

something about transparency Venezuela, the work that we have been doing is we have organized -- I've organized some information I'm going to put

forward to you in five points.

[10:25:26]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Continue.

DE FREITAS (through translator): I've arranged information I'm going to give to you in around five points. Let me make the most of my time.

First of all, one, the corruption in Venezuela sees -- is seen in some three countries of the world. We have organized hundreds of cases that we

have documented over the years, more than 500, 600 cases in various countries.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you hear us?

ANDERSON: Well, the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency meeting right now to discuss the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President

Nicolas Maduro. The U.N.'s Under Secretary General describing the action by the United States as a breach of international law. That is not who we are

looking at at the moment, that is the representative of Venezuela Transparency, and we'll get back to what she is saying momentarily.

But the U.N. Under Secretary General saying the latest developments follow a period of heightened tensions and decades of social and economic turmoil.

She said the situation in Venezuela is critical, but still possible to avoid things getting worse.

Nic Robertson is with me. He's our international diplomatic editor. And Nic, Jeffrey Sachs, in addressing the Council, said, "Members of the

council are called upon to defend international law and specifically the U.N. Charter." There will be those watching this today who will be asking

themselves, frankly, what can the Security Council do at this point?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: And it very much felt as if this was an appeal to the Security Council and the member nations

thereof that this is their future on the line, quite literally, either you sign up to the U.N. charter or you don't, and you'll see the demise and the

withering away of the U.N. Jeffrey Sachs outlined how the League of Nations was created out of World War II, the U.N., United Nations created out of

World War II, and that these institutions embody and having their charter, international laws that everyone needs to abide by. And he outlined there

that the United States had had broken, breached some of those terms of the charter, and it wasn't in the case of Venezuela, recently, it wasn't just a

sudden thing that had happened. This is this has been happening a number of times over the years.

So, it really -- and look, I mean, it stripped back to its bare essence here, you have a U.S. President Donald Trump, who cares not so much for the

United Nations. However, he did, when he appealed to the U.N. support for his peace deal for Gaza, put forward quite a lot of effort and energy with

the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. to make sure that the U.N. gave support to President -- to President Trump's peace initiative in Gaza.

But this is a president who has defunded a lot of the mechanics and the workings and the money that United States gives to the U.N. This is an

institution that President Trump has been very critical of in the past, and it -- and what we're hearing here being weighed up is quite literally the

values that President Trump is putting forward for how he wants to resolve issues pertaining to the United States and the rest of the world, and how

the world writ large, the U.N. has agreed in its charter to solve the issues of the world in its barest bones. That's the contest here, and it

was being diplomatically laid out, but that's very clear what is happening.

ANDERSON: Nic, before I let you go, just briefly, you got 30 seconds, international reaction to the seizure of Nicolas Maduro, we're now what? 48

hours in? What do you make of what we've heard?

[10:30:03]

ROBERTSON: Look, from allies, it's been pretty cautious. Neither, none of them -- I'm talking here about the E.U. 26 states agreed there that and the

British prime minister as well have come out and condemned and criticized President Trump. They have been very clear, they believe in upholding

international law.

We have just heard at the U.N. that it hasn't been upheld. These countries have also said that they don't believe that Maduro had represented the

legitimate will of the Venezuelan people.

So, they are trying to have it both ways. There is a fine line to walk and why quite simply, these allies, allies of the United States, have important

economic and security interests with the United States, and don't want to - - and don't want to bring Donald Trump's ire down on them, but the issue is being pushed here in the U.N. General Assembly chambers to make a decision

and come clear what they value. That's the contest.

ANDERSON: Yes. Fascinating, isn't it? So, Nic, alluding to the United Nations Security Council, which is, as we speak, holding an emergency

meeting to discuss the U.S. seizure of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. And let me just remind our viewers what we have heard before we

take a break, at this point.

The U.N.'s undersecretary general, describing the action by the United States as in breach of international law. So, the U.N. officially calling

this action in breach of international law, saying the latest developments follow a period of heightened tensions in the country and decades of social

and economic turmoil, though the undersecretary general of the United Nations, making the point that the situation, though critical on the ground

in Venezuela is -- it is still, she said, possible to avoid things getting worse.

And Nic and I have been discussing the fact that Jeffrey Sachs, the economist who actually addressed the Security Council today, said that,

"Members of the council have called upon to defend international law, and specifically the U.N. Charter."

Nic and I, though, have been frankly discussing what the council can do at this point. So much talk of the U.N. being so ineffective these days, when

you get a country like the U.S. allegedly flouting international law at its will, and that puts the United Nations in a very sort of ineffective

position.

Nic, going forward, you and I have also been discussing the issue that is Latin and South America, and the threats that are being made by both the

U.S. president and his secretary of state to other countries that they could be next briefly.

ROBERTSON: And we have heard a very eloquent speech being given by the president of Mexico about why she thinks they are dealing with the issues

that are so concerning for President Trump. The drug cartels that the flows of people, migrants, drugs, into United States, coming across the border.

From Mexico, why they are dealing with that a multi strand approach. She said that's in the works. We've heard frustrations and anger in Cuba, and

also, indications that in Colombia, the president there, who once was a guerrilla fighter forsworn the use of arms, is saying that he would again

take up weapons to defend his country. You know, should the United States try to take an aggressive approach with them?

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: You can see me watching that on my small (INAUDIBLE).

ROBERTSON: It all brings back the concerns.

ANDERSON: All right. Nic, we are heading towards a short break at this point. It's been fantastic having you. Nic Robinson is our international

diplomatic editor, and he is out of London for you today.

And we are going to take a short break. Before I do that, you are watching our continuing coverage news -- sorry, breaking news coverage of deposed

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in court in the United States today. Here is where things stand right now. Maduro is at a New York City

courthouse ahead of his scheduled appearance to face drug and weapons charges.

U.S. President Donald Trump said, following Maduro's capture on Saturday, that America is, "in-charge" during the transition of power in Caracas.

[10:34:24]

More on that is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END