UN Experts Condemn U.S. Threats Against Venezuela as Violation of Sovereignty

The experts cautioned that recent U.S. military moves in the Caribbean represent a dangerous escalation with potentially grave consequences for regional peace and stability.

United Nations human rights experts have issued a sharp warning against covert operations and threats of armed force by the United States targeting Venezuela, declaring such actions a breach of international law and a serious violation of the UN Charter. The experts cautioned that recent U.S. military moves in the Caribbean represent a dangerous escalation with potentially grave consequences for regional peace and stability.

Grave Concerns Over Military Escalation

According to the UN’s statement, the experts expressed concern over reports of a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, coinciding with recent presidential announcements and naval operations allegedly aimed at intercepting narcotics trafficking off the Venezuelan coast.

“Even if such allegations were substantiated, the use of lethal force in international waters without a proper legal basis violates international law and constitutes extrajudicial executions,” the experts warned. They added that preparations for covert or direct military action against another sovereign state would represent “an even graver breach of the UN Charter.”

Violation of Core Principles of International Law

The experts underscored that Article 2(4) of the UN Charter strictly prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.” Such actions, they said, also violate the principle of non-intervention — a cornerstone of international relations since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945.

They further emphasized that any attempt to impose regime change by external force undermines the right of peoples to self-determination, as enshrined in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the United States ratified in 1992.

Targeting of Venezuelan Entities

Tensions have grown following the U.S. administration’s designation of the Venezuelan organized crime group Tren de Aragua and others as “terrorist” organizations, accompanied by claims that these groups are “invading the United States.” UN human rights experts have previously rejected similar justifications, affirming that no right to self-defence exists under international law when the designated groups are not conducting armed attacks on U.S. territory.

Such actions, they noted, risk setting a dangerous precedent that could legitimize unilateral military action under the guise of counterterrorism or anti-narcotics operations.

Echoes of a Troubled History

“The long history of external interventions in Latin America must not be repeated,” the experts declared, recalling decades of foreign involvement that destabilized governments and undermined sovereignty across the region. They urged global actors to learn from history and uphold the principles of dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful dispute resolution.

The experts also warned that militarized responses risk deepening regional divisions and undermining fragile humanitarian efforts already under way in Venezuela. Any external aggression, they said, could escalate instability and worsen human rights conditions for millions already facing economic and social hardship.

Call for Restraint and Multilateralism

The experts urged the United States to halt all threats, covert actions, and unlawful operations, and to reaffirm its commitment to the UN Charter, multilateral cooperation, and international peace. “The rule of law must guide international relations, not unilateral force,” they stated.

They confirmed that they have formally contacted the U.S. Government to express their concerns and request clarification regarding the alleged operations and threats.

This latest intervention adds to a growing chorus of international voices calling for restraint, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to the principles of international law in dealing with Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic crisis.