Mexico City: Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday delivered a strong appeal to the United Nations to step in and help avert potential bloodshed in Venezuela, amid an intensifying diplomatic and security crisis involving the United States and Caracas. Speaking at her daily morning press briefing in the nation’s capital, Sheinbaum underscored Mexico’s longstanding commitment to peace, sovereignty and non-interventionist principles, urging the international body to “fulfill its role” and act promptly to avoid further escalation.
Sheinbaum’s comments come against the backdrop of mounting tensions sparked by a recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a so-called “blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuelan ports a move that has sharply raised geopolitical stakes in the Western Hemisphere. The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, denounced the blockade as a “grotesque threat” and warned of serious repercussions, highlighting the deepening rift between Caracas and Washington.
In her appeal, Sheinbaum reaffirmed Mexico’s rejection of any form of foreign military intervention or external interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs, stressing that regional disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercion or force. She reiterated that Mexico’s foreign policy is rooted in respect for the sovereignty and self-determination of nations, and that external pressures particularly through punitive measures or threats risk inflicting unnecessary suffering on civilian populations.
The situation in Venezuela has grown increasingly complex in recent weeks. A United Nations fact-finding mission reported that the country’s Bolivarian National Guard committed crimes against humanity over more than a decade, intensifying concerns about ongoing repression and human rights violations under Maduro’s government. Such revelations coupled with widespread domestic protests and economic hardship have heightened scrutiny of Caracas’s handling of internal dissent.
While Sheinbaum called for international diplomacy, other global actors have also weighed in. Germany urged restraint and emphasized the importance of safeguarding regional peace and security, warning that punitive measures like the oil tanker blockade could jeopardize stability in the Americas. Such statements reflect broader international unease over the prospect of further escalation and the potential for violent confrontation.
Adding to the political tension, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado has declared her goal of a peaceful transition of power, positioning her movement as a pivotal force in the country’s future amid ongoing power struggles. Machado’s emergence on the international stage highlights the profound divisions within Venezuelan society and the complex regional dynamics surrounding the crisis.
Sheinbaum’s appeal to the U.N. underscores Mexico’s determination to play a constructive role in discouraging violence and promoting peaceful solutions. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community faces mounting pressure to engage in dialogue and negotiation to prevent further destabilization in one of Latin America’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoints.