STORY: :: The U.S. says that it will impose sanctions 'to the maximum extent' to deprive Venezuela's Maduro of resources
:: December 23, 2025
:: Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
"The United States will impose and enforce sanctions to the maximum extent to deprive Maduro of the resources he uses to fund Cartel de los Soles, which the United States is designated as a foreign terrorist organization, along with Tren de Aragua. Important to this council meeting today, this includes profits from the sale of oil used to finance these cartels."
:: Venezuela's representative said the U.S. was 'imposing chaos and destruction on international relations'
:: Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the U.N.
"We are facing a massive violation of the entire international legal framework. This is a grotesque offense that violates every civilized norm. The United States government is currently imposing chaos and destruction on international relations, just as the evil actors who caused the Second World War did."
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has for months waged a campaign of deadly strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats off the Venezuelan coast and the Pacific coast of Latin America. He has threatened strikes on Venezuelan land.
The U.S. has ramped up its military presence in the region and Trump announced a blockade of all vessels subject to U.S. sanctions. So far this month, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted two tankers in the Caribbean Sea, both fully loaded with Venezuelan crude. The Coast Guard is also pursuing a third empty vessel that was approaching the OPEC country's shore.
Washington designated Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, as a foreign terrorist organization late last month for the group's alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the U.S. It accuses Maduro of leading Cartel de los Soles. Venezuela's government rejected what it called a "ridiculous" move to designate the "non-existent" group.
Venezuela, backed by Russia and China, requested Tuesday's meeting, the second held on the escalating tensions. The Security Council first met in October, when the United States justified its actions as consistent with Article 51 of the founding U.N. Charter, which requires the Security Council to be immediately informed of any action states take in self-defense against armed attack.
