UN ambassadors criticize US operation in Venezuela: 'Illegitimate armed attack'

Multiple ambassadors to the United Nations criticized the United States' intervention in Venezuela during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Monday, questioning the legality of the operation.

The representative of Venezuela, Samuel Moncada, called Saturday's operation an "illegitimate armed attack lacking any legal justification" and said the "kidnapping" of the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, is "of particular seriousness."

The ambassador said he believed that the U.S. carried out its operation on Venezuela because of his country's natural resources.

"Our country's oil, energy, strategic resources and geopolitical position have historically been factors of greed and external pressure," he said.

The representatives of Colombia, France, Denmark, Russia and Iran were among those who also criticized the military action during the emergency meeting on the U.S. strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro and his wife.

Leonor Zalabata, Colombia's ambassador, described the U.S.' actions as "clear violations of the sovereignty, political independence, and the territorial integrity of Venezuela," and a "violation of international law."

The ambassador for France said it "runs counter to the principle of peaceful dispute resolution," while the Russian ambassador called it a "criminal operation."

In a statement delivered during the meeting on his behalf, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres additionally expressed concern that the U.S.' military action in Venezuela did not respect international law and said he was "deeply concerned" about its potential impact on the region and the precedent it may set.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the action during the emergency meeting, saying that the U.S. "will not waver in our actions to protect Americans from the scourge of narco-terrorism and seeks peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela."

Waltz said the U.S. is "not occupying" Venezuela and referred to the action as a "law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades."

"The United States arrested a narco-trafficker who is now going to stand trial in the United States in accordance with the rule of law for the crimes he's committed against our people for 15 years," he said.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges during their first court appearance in New York on Monday.

Maduro told the court he is innocent and "still president of my country," and his attorney signaled they may try to assert Maduro is entitled to protection from prosecution as head of a sovereign state.

In the wake of his ouster, Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim leader of Venezuela on Monday.