UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Venezuela

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on January 5 following the U.S. military operation against Venezuela, the council presidency told Xinhua.

"The presidency intends to hold the emergency meeting on Monday at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT)," said Khadija Ahmed, the permanent representative of Somalia to the UN. Somalia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of January.

Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats said. The U.N. Security Council has met twice - in October and December - over the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a major military operation against Venezuela, involving air strikes and special forces, that resulted in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being captured at their residence and taken into U.S. custody.

By Khagan Isayev