South African statement at a UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela

Here is an excerpt of the remarks by South Africa's representative at the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Venezuela in New York on Monday:

The unilateral military strikes carried out by the United States of America against Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse from Venezuelan territory for transfer to the United States wantonly violates the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Venezuela. These actions are also in stark contrast of our established legal norms. Once again, the belief that might is right is reinforced and diplomacy is undermined.

Additionally, under international law, a state has exclusive jurisdiction over persons and conduct within its own territory. Any enforcement of domestic law, including arrest, by one state within the territory of another state without that state's consent is an unlawful violation of sovereignty. There are recourse mechanisms at the disposal of states to implement international law. This includes taking action by bringing a case before the International Court of Justice or seeking action from the UN Security Council.

This would be a regression into a world preceding the United Nations, a world that gave us two brutal world wars, and an international system prone to severe structural instability and lawlessness. We cannot afford to proceed into a complex future without the stability and protection afforded by international law.