The US requests a UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela; Russia objects.
The United States demanded a public meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Venezuela this Saturday (26) and diplomats said they expect US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to speak at the meeting; Russia considers the meeting unnecessary; if the event takes place, it could be the scene of a heated diplomatic battle.
247, with Reuters - The United States has called for a public meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Venezuela this Saturday (26) and diplomats said they expect US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to speak at the meeting.
On Wednesday (23), Washington recognized Congressman Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela and asked other countries to do the same. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded by breaking off diplomatic relations with the US and ordering US diplomats to leave the country.
The United States argued that the critical situation in Venezuela "could lead to further regional conflict and instability," according to its request for a meeting of the 15-member Security Council.
The request faces opposition from Russia, which says it does not consider the situation in Venezuela a threat to international peace and security.
When asked on Thursday whether the council should meet to discuss Venezuela, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said: "I don't think so, that's an internal matter for them."
Any member of the Security Council can request a vote to block the meeting. A minimum of nine votes is required to win such a vote, and China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France cannot exercise their vetoes in these cases. However, UN diplomats have said that any attempt to prevent the meeting on Venezuela would be defeated. Should the meeting take place, there will be diplomatic clashes between Russia and China on one side, and the United States on the other.