The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially voiced its alarm regarding the recent escalation in Venezuela, following a United States military operation that resulted in the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro and airstrikes on the capital city, Caracas.
In a formal statement released Sunday evening, the regional bloc appealed to the global community to uphold the independence and territorial integrity of the South American nation. ECOWAS further emphasized its solidarity with the Venezuelan public, advocating for their right to determine their political future through a comprehensive and inclusive internal process.
Details of the U.S. Operation and Detention
The tension follows a weekend of high-stakes military activity where U.S. forces took President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores into custody. While the U.S. administration maintains the necessity of the move, various legal analysts have characterized the extraction as a violation of international law.
The couple has since been moved to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York. They currently face a series of federal charges involving:
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Narcotics trafficking
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Terrorism-related offenses
In a following address, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a shift toward direct oversight of Venezuela’s significant oil assets, suggesting that the United States would oversee the country’s administration for an indefinite interim period.
International Law and Diplomatic Alignment
While ECOWAS noted that sovereign states possess the inherent right to combat global criminal activity, it underscored that such actions must remain within the boundaries of established international protocols. Specifically, the bloc highlighted Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which strictly prohibits the use of force or threats against the sovereignty of any state.
“States must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” — Article 2(4), UN Charter
By taking this stance, ECOWAS aligns itself with the African Union (AU). Both organizations are now calling for immediate restraint and the initiation of a diplomatic dialogue led by the Venezuelan people to resolve the crisis.
