A bipartisan group of senators urged Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday to oppose Venezuela’s bid to land a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council.
In a letter to Kerry, Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Dick Durbin, D-Il., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., John McCain, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said having Venezuela on the security council would undermine the Obama administration’s efforts to promote international peace and security.
‘In addition to President (Nicolas) Maduro’s vocal disdain for the United Nations, his government’s actions, at the U.N. and at home run counter to the founding principles and norms of the U.N. Charter, namely the pursuit of international peace and security and the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people,’ the senators wrote.
‘Venezuela’s membership on the U.N. Security Council would constitute a serious blow for the United States and United Nations at a time when we must collaborate to address the world’s most pressing challenges,’ they added.
The U.N. is expected to hold a vote on the security council seat later this month.