International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola on Monday expressed confidence that progressive decisions will be taken, and robust engagements will occur during the sitting of the United Nations Security Council, convened after the US invasion of Venezuela.

During the weekend US President Donald Trump announced a large-scale US strike on Venezuela.

The US abducted Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, which Lamola said the South African government was taken aback by.

Lamola said the US’s move is in violation of the UN charter and a violation of all principles that should govern the respectability of sovereign states.

Lamola acknowledged that the US veto issue is always an obstacle in the UN Security Council but argued that the issue being given a spotlight at the UN Security Council will explain to the world what happened and how it happened. 

“…and this will enable the people of the world to act in unison and in solidarity because they will now know the facts, they will know exactly how the world must move on, so it is important, even if the issue is vetoed, but the fact that a public will be transparent is a very important persuasive force that the world will continue to be able to do so,” he added.

Lamola noted that while the US is “unpredictable”, South Africa will continue to be principled. 

“International solidarity and collective action are what has brought stability to the world since the Second World War. We can't be back to the period after the First World War where there were no rules, there was no world based on international law,” he said.

He added that South Africa should continue to call for the upholding of international law.

“…because if we don't do so, some of the middle countries like ourselves, third world countries, will have no say anywhere in the world. The might will always be right, but the rules-based society and the rule of law, it's a shade that must protect everyone, whether small or big,” he added.