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Russia’s United Nations envoy Vassily Nebenzia on Tuesday described the United States’ oil blockade on Venezuela as illegal and “a real act of aggression,” warning it could set a precedent for future actions against Latin American states.
Addressing an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, Nebenzia said the U.S. had imposed a “total and complete blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters to exert military, political and economic pressure aimed at changing what he called an inconvenient regime for Washington.
He said the blockade was “the most clear and absolutely real act of aggression” and said the responsibility of the U.S. was evident for what he described as catastrophic consequences for Venezuela’s population, referring to Washington’s conduct as “cowboy-like.”
Nebenzia warned that U.S. intervention could become a “template for future acts of force against Latin American states,” adding that Washington respected countries’ independence only if they aligned their policies with U.S. interests.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump declared the oil blockade last week, U.S. forces have seized at least two tankers as they departed Venezuela, with Trump saying Washington would keep the vessels and their cargo.
Venezuela condemned the actions as “international piracy.”
Washington said the measures were aimed at combating corruption and drug trafficking, while Caracas accused the U.S. of using anti-narcotics efforts as a pretext to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power and gain control over the country’s oil resources.
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