The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency session today, Monday 5 January 2026, to address the dramatic escalation in Venezuela following a unilateral American military intervention over the weekend.
US Operation Topples Maduro
The crisis was triggered by a large-scale overnight strike by United States forces on Saturday, 2 January. The operation resulted in the deposition and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro has been transferred to a detention facility in New York, where he awaits his first court appearance on US criminal charges.
The military action also led to significant casualties. At least 32 Cuban officers were killed after they had been called to assist Venezuelan authorities during the unfolding events.
International Condemnation and a "Dangerous Precedent"
The hastily convened meeting of the 15-member council was formally requested by Colombia, with the backing of major powers Russia and China. This marks the third time the council has gathered over rising US-Venezuela tensions, following previous sessions in October and December last year.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced profound concern, stating that the US move sets "a dangerous precedent" in international relations, challenging norms of sovereignty and non-intervention.
Ripples of Uncertainty: Greenland Threats Add to Tensions
Amid the Venezuelan crisis, further international alarm has been sparked by remarks from US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland. Mr Trump has suggested he needs the territory "from the standpoint of national security," raising fears of potential military action.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged the US president to cease the threats, while Greenland's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, dismissed the idea of US control over the island as a "fantasy".
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded firmly, stating: "Denmark is a close ally in Europe, is a Nato ally and it is very important that the future of Greenland is for the Kingdom of Denmark and for Greenland themselves and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark."
The dual crises in Venezuela and the Arctic have created a volatile moment in global diplomacy, with today's UN Security Council meeting serving as a critical focal point for international response and debate.
