Russia and China on Tuesday accused the United States of intimidation and “cowboy behavior” toward Venezuela during a tense U.N. Security Council session.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz responded by saying "The United States will do everything in its power to protect our hemisphere, our borders, and the American people."
The comments came at an emergency Security Council meeting requested by Venezuela, with the support of Russia and China.
Waltz said the U.S. will impose and enforce sanctions to the maximum extent to deprive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of resources that Washington accuses him of using to fund Cartel de Los Soles.
"Maduro's ability to sell Venezuela's oil enables his fraudulent claim to power and his narco-terrorist activities," Waltz told the 15-member council. "The people of Venezuela, frankly, deserve better."
