JOHANNESBURG – South Africa has formally called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council following what it described as a unilateral and unlawful US military action in Venezuela, warning that the operation threatens international peace, state sovereignty and the global rules-based order.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said it viewed the reported US military strike on Venezuela — and the alleged capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife — as a “manifest violation” of the United Nations Charter.

“The Government of the Republic of South Africa notes with grave concern the recent developments which the United States of America confirmed,” the statement said, referring to Washington’s acknowledgement of a large-scale military strike against Venezuela.

‘Clear breach of the UN Charter’

Pretoria said the actions directly contravened the UN Charter, which obliges all member states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.

“Furthermore, the Charter does not authorise external military intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation,” DIRCO said.

South Africa warned that history consistently shows military invasions against sovereign states do not resolve political crises, but instead produce instability and deepen conflict, often with long-lasting humanitarian and regional consequences.

“Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations,” the statement added.

Call for an urgent Security Council session

South Africa has now urged the UN Security Council to convene urgently to address the situation in Venezuela, arguing that the body has a legal and moral responsibility to safeguard international peace and security.

The call places Pretoria among a growing group of states from the Global South expressing alarm over the precedent such an operation could set if left unchallenged.

Diplomatic sources in Johannesburg said South Africa is expected to coordinate with other African Union members, as well as BRICS partners, to push for multilateral engagement rather than unilateral enforcement actions.

Broader geopolitical implications

The South African government’s intervention comes amid heightened global tensions over sovereignty, regime change and the selective application of international law. Analysts say Pretoria’s stance reflects long-standing concerns among developing nations that powerful states are increasingly bypassing multilateral institutions when it suits their strategic interests.

Foreign policy experts note that Venezuela’s case resonates strongly in Africa and Latin America, where memories of externally driven interventions remain politically potent.

“South Africa is essentially saying that if the UN Charter is ignored in Venezuela today, no developing country can feel secure tomorrow,” said one Johannesburg-based international relations analyst.

Silence from Washington, pressure at the UN

While US officials have defended the operation as necessary for security and law enforcement reasons, they have yet to formally respond to South Africa’s call for a Security Council session. Several UN diplomats in New York have indicated that emergency consultations are likely, although any binding resolution could face resistance from permanent members.

DIRCO stressed that Pretoria’s position is not an endorsement of any particular Venezuelan political actor, but a defence of principle over power.

“South Africa’s position is anchored in international law, multilateralism and peaceful resolution of disputes,” the department said.

A test for multilateralism

As global reactions continue to unfold, South Africa’s move is being closely watched as a test of whether the UN system can assert relevance in an era of unilateral military actions.

For Pretoria, the message is clear: international order cannot survive if rules apply only to the weak and not to the powerful.