Sheinbaum urges UN to 'prevent bloodshed' after Trump orders Venezuela blockade

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has urged the United Nations to "prevent any bloodshed" in Venezuela, as Donald Trump intensified pressure on the South American country.

"The United Nations has been visibly absent. They must assume their role to prevent any bloodshed and always seek peaceful resolution of conflicts," the leftist president told reporters the morning after Washington announced a blockade on "sanctioned oil tankers" entering or leaving Venezuela.

The United States has been deploying a significant military force in the Caribbean with the stated goal of combating drug trafficking in Latin America.

Caracas views this operation as a campaign to oust leftist leader Nicolás Maduro—whom the U.S. and many nations consider an illegitimate president—and to "steal" Venezuelan oil.

Sheinbaum stated that regardless of "opinions" about Maduro's leadership, Mexico's position is to reject "foreign interference."

"We call for dialogue and peace to be used in any international dispute, and not intervention. That is our position by conviction and by our constitution," she added.

Sheinbaum called for de-escalation and offered Mexico as a venue for possible negotiations or meetings between Venezuela and the U.S.

"The entire world must ensure there is no intervention and that there is a peaceful solution," she added.

Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and although years of mismanagement and corruption have severely damaged its oil industry, oil exports remain the country's main source of income.

China also expressed its support, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart that Beijing opposes "unilateral harassment" and supports countries in safeguarding their sovereignty.

China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, acquiring about 80% of its exports, although Venezuelan supply represents only around 4% of China's total crude imports.

Last week, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea carrying Venezuelan oil destined for Cuba and China.

Wang said in a phone call with Venezuelan Minister Yván Gil that China and Venezuela are strategic partners and that mutual trust and support are a tradition in bilateral ties, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela's position in defending its legitimate rights and interests," he stated.

Chile's hard-right president-elect, José Antonio Kast, said Tuesday he would support efforts to end Maduro's "dictatorship," expanding Trump's support base in the region at a time when he is considering attacks on Venezuelan territory.

The U.S. embassy in Quito announced Wednesday that U.S. Air Force personnel were in the Pacific port city of Manta, Ecuador, for "a temporary operation with the Ecuadorian Air Force." It did not specify how many personnel or equipment had been deployed.

Attacks on three alleged drug trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific killed eight people on Monday, according to the U.S. military, the latest action in a controversial campaign that has caused dozens of deaths.

Since early September, the U.S. military has attacked vessels allegedly involved in drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, destroying at least 26 small boats and killing at least 95 people.