UNGA president stresses respect for UN Charter, international law after U.S. strikes on Venezuela

Respect for the UN Charter and international law is the foundation of the international order, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock said in a statement on the situation regarding Venezuela.

In the statement sent to reporters on Monday, the UNGA president stressed: "The UN Charter is not optional – it is our guiding framework, in moments of calm and in times of crisis, like in Venezuela today, culminating with the United States military action."

The statement noted that Article 2 of the UN Charter clearly stipulates that all members of the United Nations shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

The statement added that "a peaceful, safe and just world for everyone is only possible if the rule of law prevails instead of might makes right."

In the early hours of January 3, U.S. military forces carried out a series of strikes on Venezuela, taking by force President Nicolas Maduro and his wife before placing them in custody in New York, which sparked widespread condemnation.