Mexico Calls for UN Intervention to Contain Tensions Between Washington and Venezuela

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, called on the United Nations to intervene to prevent potential bloodshed following the increased US military presence off Venezuela's northern coast and escalating tensions in the region. This was stated during a press conference held on Wednesday, where she addressed US President Donald Trump's announcement of imposing a blockade on all oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. Sheinbaum affirmed that Mexico always opposes foreign interventions in countries' affairs and supports peaceful solutions to conflicts and dialogue to establish peace. She criticized the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, saying: "Sanctions appear to target governments on the surface, but in reality, they harm the people, as is the case in Cuba." On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela had illegally seized American energy and oil rights, threatening to recover them. On Tuesday, Trump announced that he had ordered a blockade on all sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. On December 11, Trump had announced that they seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast "for a good reason" and that they would keep it. Trump had previously stated that his country might carry out ground attacks against Venezuela, saying these attacks would begin "soon." In response, Venezuelan officials described the US seizure of an oil tanker off their coast as "open theft" and confirmed they would take the case to international authorities. Tensions have recently escalated between the United States and Venezuela, with Trump issuing an executive order last August to increase military use under the pretext of "combating drug gangs" in Latin America. In this context, Washington announced sending warships and a submarine off Venezuela's coast, while US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the military is ready for operations, including regime change in Venezuela. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the mobilization of forces totaling 4.5 million people in Venezuela, preparing to repel any potential attack. The US military attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, alleging drug smuggling and directly targeting people on board, sparked controversy over "extrajudicial killings" in the international community.