After opposing the Department of International Relations and Cooperations’ (Dirco) appeal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urgently convene to discuss the capture and prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, by the US, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is claiming that Dirco is being “politicised” to pursue party political interests instead of pursuing foreign policy in the national interest.

On Saturday, the South African government called on the UN Security Council, to urgently convene to address the situation. The 15 members met on Monday.

South Africa expressed concerns about military invasions against sovereign states, arguing that this only yields instability and deepens crises.

“Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations,” Dirco said.

The DA said this “smacks of hypocrisy and contradiction”, pointing out that Dirco failed to take a similar stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This exposes the politically selective and hypocritical means in which the African National Congress (ANC) conducts South Africa’s diplomatic relations on the international stage,” stated DA Spokesperson on Dirco Ryan Smith.

He said Dirco’s approach has rendered South Africa an “inconsistent, unreliable, and unserious” player on the international stage.

“There is no room for ambiguity or the interpretation of a violation of state sovereignty.

That principle applies equally to all international aggressors, Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation included,” Smith said.

The DA demanded that Dirco act consistently in international law or refrain from “embarrassing South Africa in the international arena”.

ACTIONS AGAINST VIOLATIONS

Meanwhile, political and acting Deputy Permanent Representative Counsellor Jonathan Passmoor said failure to act decisively against violations of States invites anarchy and normalises the use of military force as the main form of discourse in international politics.

Passmoor represented South Africa at the emergency sitting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, where he said the stability of the international system depends not only on the respect but on the consistent application of the established legal norms.

“We cannot afford to proceed into a complex future without the stability and protection afforded by international law,” he said.

Passmoor said the unilateral military strikes by the US against Venezuela and the abduction of Maduro and his wife from Venezuelan territory 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.

“Unfortunately, when countries ignore the Charter and act contrary to its central premise, it undermines the credibility of the entire system in which we all undertake our international relations,” he said.

Passmoor stressed that all countries benefit from a rules-based international order based on international law.

“…when we break these norms, we invite anarchy and an environment where might make right, ignoring the complexity of interrelations and interdependence in our modern world,” he said.

Passmoor pointed out that history has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign States yield only instability and deepen crisis.

“Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations. Such use of force also undermines the institutional infrastructure established to regulate relations among nations,” he said.

He pointed to events in Libya, Iraq, and cases in Africa where foreign interventions and interference create security crises and undermine national governance institutions.

Passmoor explained that the peaceful resolution of disputes and internal matters must proceed in accordance with international law, and through multilateral mechanisms.