Venezuela has asked the United Nations to hold an emergency meeting on US military actions, saying it expects an “armed attack” soon

The Venezuelan government on Thursday requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council focusing on US military operations in recent weeks in the waters off the South American country. Caracas cited “increasing threats” from the United States to do so Multiple military strikes On alleged drug boats off Venezuela.

Venezuela submitted the request in a letter addressed to Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations and the President of the Council, Vasily Nebenzia, in which it accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of seeking to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and threatening “peace, security and stability regionally and internationally.”

Maduro’s government also expressed its expectation of an “armed attack” against Venezuela “in a very short time.”

Diplomats told AFP at the United Nations headquarters in New York that the talks will take place on Friday at three in the afternoon

The request came a day after members of Congress They voted against the legislation That would have put an end to Trump’s ability to use lethal military force against drug traffickers. So far, the US military has carried out four deadly strikes in the Caribbean since it increased its naval forces in exchange for what Mr Trump did. Declared “armed conflict” With drug gangs

However, the Maduro government maintains that the White House is using drug trafficking only as a pretext for the operation.

“The ulterior motive remains the same that has characterized the actions of the United States of America towards Venezuela for more than 26 years: to promote policies of ‘regime change’ in order to control the vast natural resources located on Venezuelan territory,” Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote in the letter.

Venezuela’s request does not mention the nationalities of the 21 people killed in the clashes Four strikes on the boats Which the United States claimed was carrying drugs. But in mentioning the four strikes, Venezuela’s government made the clearest acknowledgment yet of the first attack, which it initially disputed by arguing that the video Trump posted showing the attack was created using artificial intelligence.

The Trump administration said that three of the targeted boats set out to sea from Venezuela.

Russia has long been an ally of Venezuela.

Last week, Maduro said he was ready for that Declaring a state of emergency Regarding what he called the threat of American “aggression.” Maduro, whose election in 2024 has been widely dismissed as undemocratic and whose leadership is not recognized by the United States and many other countries, also denied claims by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Venezuelan military is cooperating with drug cartels.

“I reject and reject Marco Rubio’s statements and defend the morals of our soldiers,” Maduro said.

The United States now offers a $50 million reward To arrest Maduro.

Venezuela’s request to the United Nations came just hours before the meeting 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Venezuelan political opposition leader María Corina Machado.