On October 9, 2025, Venezuela dramatically escalated its diplomatic confrontation with the United States by formally requesting an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. The move, announced through a letter delivered by Venezuela’s UN representative Samuel Moncada, marks the most direct international challenge yet to US military activity in the Caribbean under the Trump administration, and throws a sharp spotlight on mounting tensions between Caracas and Washington.
According to reports from Agencia Venezolana de Noticias and Anadolu Agency, the letter was addressed to Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, the current Security Council president. Venezuela’s petition alleges that the US is using its military presence in the Caribbean as a pretext for “regime change” in Caracas and for seizing the country’s vast natural resources. The complaint describes the US military buildup as “unprecedented,” with American forces stationed just miles from Venezuela’s shores. The government in Caracas claims this proximity, combined with a series of recent US military strikes, constitutes a direct threat to its sovereignty and regional stability.
“The ulterior motive remains the same as that which has characterized the United States of America’s actions toward Venezuela for more than 26 years: to advance its ‘regime change’ policies in order to seize control of the vast natural resources found in Venezuelan territory,” wrote Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, in the letter, as reported by The Economic Times. The letter further claims that US actions “threaten peace, security and stability regionally and internationally,” and warns of an “armed attack” against Venezuela occurring “in a very short time.”
The Security Council meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2025, at 3 p.m. in New York, according to diplomats cited by AFP. The timing of Venezuela’s diplomatic offensive is no accident. The request came just one day after the US Congress, on October 8, 2025, rejected legislation that would have limited President Donald Trump’s authority to use deadly military force against drug traffickers. This legislative defeat effectively gave the Trump administration a freer hand to expand its military operations in the Caribbean, a development that has deeply alarmed Caracas.
In recent weeks, the US military has carried out at least four deadly strikes in the Caribbean Sea targeting vessels it claims were transporting illegal drugs. The Trump administration has described these operations as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, and has stated that three of the targeted boats departed from Venezuela. However, Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolás Maduro, reject this characterization, arguing that the war on drugs is being used as a cover for more aggressive and politically motivated objectives.
Venezuela’s letter to the Security Council does not specify the nationalities of the 21 individuals killed in the four US military strikes, but by referencing these incidents, it provides the government’s clearest acknowledgment yet of the attacks. Notably, the Maduro government initially questioned the authenticity of video footage released by President Trump depicting the first strike, suggesting the video had been created with artificial intelligence. The skepticism highlights the deep mistrust that now defines relations between the two countries.
Beyond the immediate military concerns, Venezuela’s complaint catalogues a litany of grievances against the US. The letter highlights that the Trump administration has imposed more than 1,000 sanctions on Venezuela, describing these measures as a campaign of unilateral economic pressure. It also accuses the US of violating the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established Latin America as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, by deploying a nuclear submarine near Venezuela’s coast. Other allegations include attacks on Venezuelan fishing vessels and broader sovereignty violations through US military deployments in the Caribbean.
“The White House aims for ‘regime change’ in Venezuela, and this is the reason for requesting urgent Security Council consideration,” reads a passage from the letter, as reported by Anadolu Agency. The Venezuelan government maintains that Washington’s actions are not limited to counter-narcotics interventions but are instead part of a broader campaign to destabilize the Maduro regime and gain control over the country’s lucrative oil and mineral wealth.
The diplomatic standoff is further complicated by the broader geopolitical context. Russia, a long-standing ally of Venezuela, currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council and has consistently supported Caracas in its disputes with Washington. According to The Economic Times, Venezuela’s request for an emergency session was directed specifically to Ambassador Nebenzia, reflecting the strategic significance of Russia’s role at the UN. Meanwhile, the United States, along with many other countries, has refused to recognize Nicolás Maduro’s leadership following his widely disputed re-election in 2024. The US has even offered a reward for Maduro’s arrest, underscoring the depth of the diplomatic freeze.
President Maduro, for his part, has declared his readiness to defend Venezuela against what he calls US “aggression.” He has also rejected accusations from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Venezuelan military is collaborating with drug cartels. “I reject and repudiate the comments by Marco Rubio and I defend the morality of our soldiers,” Maduro stated, as cited by AFP. These denials are part of a broader effort by Caracas to rally domestic and international support in the face of mounting external pressure.
The timing of Venezuela’s UN appeal is noteworthy for another reason: it came just hours before the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan political opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The juxtaposition of these events highlights the deep divisions within Venezuelan society and the high stakes of the ongoing confrontation with the United States.
As the Security Council prepares to convene, the world will be watching closely to see whether the UN can play a meaningful role in de-escalating the crisis. For now, the diplomatic and military maneuvers in the Caribbean remain a stark reminder of the enduring volatility in US-Venezuelan relations—and of the broader struggle for influence and resources in the region.
With both sides digging in, and with powerful allies and adversaries at the table, the coming days may prove pivotal for Venezuela’s future and for the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere.
