The South African government has urgently called for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session following reports of a United States (US) military strike in Venezuela. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a military operation was conducted against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This significant military action comes after months of escalating conflict between Venezuela and the US.

Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations (Dirco), stated that the South African government expressed grave concern over the US military operation. Phiri emphasized that South Africa views these actions as a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, which mandates that all Member States must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Reports indicated explosions across Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on Saturday morning, including at military bases, coinciding with the US President's announcement. Trump declared on social media that Maduro and his wife were captured and subsequently flown out of the country. He explicitly stated, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.”

Following their capture, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi revealed that President Maduro is expected to face trial in New York. The charges against him stem from a 2020 indictment alleging his involvement in narco-terrorism.

Dirco further stressed that the UN Charter does not authorize external military intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation. The department highlighted historical precedents, noting that military invasions of sovereign states consistently lead to instability and escalating crises. Such unlawful, unilateral uses of force, according to Dirco, profoundly undermine the stability of the international order and the fundamental principle of equality among nations.