With much advance fanfare, Latvia took its place for the first time ever as a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 1st – but would probably not have expected that within a few days it would be a voice discussing a major new international crisis.
Following the extraordinary actions of the United States to seize self-declared Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid and bundle him onto a plane to the U.S. to stand trial, and to attack several targets on Venezuelan soil as part of the same operation, Latvia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, found herself speaking at an emergency session of the UNSC on January 5th.
Pavļuta-Deslandes said that Maduro’s regime “was rooted in mass repression, corruption and organized crime, including drug trafficking, and posed a grave threat to the security of the region and the world”.
The regime repeatedly violated the UN Charter and undermined international law, including through its open support for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, she added.
“Latvia recalls that under all circumstances the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be upheld,” said Pavļuta-Deslandes – echoing her words from just a few days earlier when she said Latvia would “speak out more loudly” on several issues including “respect for international law” during its year-long stint on the UNSC.
However, it was notable that she completely failed to address the question of whether the actions of the United States in Venezuela were also in violation of international law. Indeed, the United States was not even mentioned by name.
“Latvia encourages all relevant actors to prioritize diplomatic efforts and work collectively towards a peaceful, democratic and sustainable future for Venezuela,” she said.
The Security Council met in emergency session in New York to address the US rendition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas, a move that has sent shockwaves through the region and beyond. The UN chief António Guterres told ambassadors there must be respect for national sovereignty, “political independence and territorial integrity,” after warning on Saturday that the U.S. had set a “dangerous precedent” for the world order.
“I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the 3 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,” said Guterres.
If you would like to watch the entirety of Latvia’s contribution at the UN Security Council, which runs to around 3 minutes, you will find it in the video below.
Select text and press Ctrl+Enter to send a suggested correction to the editor
Select text and press Report a mistake to send a suggested correction to the editor
Tell us about a mistake