New Delhi, India, January 7 (ANI): Former Indian diplomat Surendra Kumar on Tuesday said that while narco-terrorism must be fought, no country should take the law into its own hands.
He made the remarks while referring to the United States’ military action in Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Kumar said the action raises serious questions about international law, national sovereignty, and the message being sent to countries in Latin America.
Speaking to ANI, Kumar said drug trafficking, terrorism, and narco-terrorism are international menaces that must be combated, but warned against unilateral actions. He said entering another country and capturing its leader creates multiple complications related to international law, the UN Charter, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and sets a troubling precedent.
He noted that several countries in the region have already reacted strongly to the US action. Kumar said Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and Chile have protested the move, adding that such actions could deepen long-standing grievances among Latin American nations that believe the United States does not treat them fairly.
The former diplomat expressed hope that the situation would stabilize soon. He said that with the vice president sworn in as president, tensions may ease and the issue could be resolved, but stressed that the messaging from the operation was not positive. While reiterating his support for combating narco-terrorism, he said no country should take the law into its own hands.
His remarks came after the United States launched a strike on Venezuela and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple are currently in US custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to drugs and weapons.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, on Tuesday announced seven days of national mourning following deaths reported during the US attack in Caracas and the capture of Maduro and Flores, CNN reported.
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