Venezuela Accuses US of 'Unofficial War' at UN as Naval Blockade Escalates Tensions

Is an 'unofficial war' brewing in the Caribbean? Venezuela has accused the United States of waging a covert war and harboring "continental ambitions" during a tense UN Security Council meeting. With over 100 reported deaths from U.S. air strikes and a new naval blockade, the confrontation between the two nations has reached a boiling point.

Clash at the UN Security Council

At the UNSC meeting on Tuesday, December 23, Venezuela's ambassador, Samuel Moncada, declared, "It’s not just about Venezuela. The ambition is continental." He alerted the council that the U.S. wants Latin America "divided so it can conquer us piece by piece." The meeting was convened at Venezuela's request to address what it calls "ongoing U.S. aggression," which began with air strikes in September.

'Drug War' or 'Oil Heist'?: Conflicting Narratives

The U.S. defends its actions as necessary to combat drug trafficking. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz stated that cartels are the "single most serious threat" and that sanctioned oil tankers serve as the "primary economic lifeline for Maduro and his illegitimate regime." The Trump administration has designated the alleged "Cartel de los Soles," which it claims is led by Maduro, as a terrorist organization.

Venezuela dismisses this as a pretext for regime change and resource theft. Moncada claimed that U.S. forces have seized at least two oil tankers and 4 million barrels of oil, calling it "a robbery carried out by military force." He added, "Today, the masks have come off. It is not drugs... It is oil, it is mines and it is land."

Russia and China Back Venezuela

The geopolitical stakes were raised as Russia and China voiced their support for Venezuela. Russia's ambassador warned the U.S. intervention could "become a template for future acts of force against Latin American states." China's representative stated the actions "seriously infringe" on Venezuela's sovereignty and legitimate rights. The dispute is increasingly looking less like a bilateral issue and more like a proxy conflict between global powers.