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The U.S. intervention in Venezuela has sparked new debate about how effective the United Nations is at stopping powerful countries from acting alone. At a roundtable in Lagos hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), experts discussed the UN’s weaknesses and the limits set by international law.
Limitations of The UN
Prof. Remi Ajibewa, former Director of Political Affairs at ECOWAS, explained that the UN is an intergovernmental organization, not a sovereign authority. Its ability to enforce decisions depends on the agreement of its member states, especially the five permanent members of the Security Council.
He noted that because the U.S. is a permanent member, it can block any action taken against itself. This shows the imbalance of power in the system.
Ajibewa argued that the UN still matters and works well when major powers agree. But when their interests differ, enforcement fails. He said the UN can condemn, investigate, and mediate, but cannot force powerful states to follow its decisions without their approval.
Ajibewa connected these limits to wider problems in governance. He pointed out that when leaders ignore their citizens’ needs, it often leads to crises that affect other countries.
Constraints of International Law
Dr. Rita Agu, Senior Research Fellow at NIIA, turned the discussion to legal principles. She pointed to Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, which bans intervention in a country’s internal affairs, and to international law that supports state sovereignty.
Agu said that actions like military invasion or arresting Venezuelan leaders are illegal interference in a country’s independence. She added that the reported abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife breaks diplomatic protections and human rights rules.
She said that cross-border enforcement is only allowed if the country agrees or if there is a binding international order. She urged the international community to stick to key principles: banning the use of force, respecting heads of state, and using multilateral solutions instead of acting alone.
Broader Implications
The discussion shows an ongoing problem in global governance: the clash between legal rules and real-world politics. International law sets clear limits, but enforcing them is hard because of unequal power in the UN. The situation in Venezuela shows how actions by powerful countries can reveal the weakness of international organizations.
Conclusion
The Lagos roundtable highlighted a tough truth: the UN’s power is limited by its structure, and international law, while clear, often cannot be enforced against strong countries. Experts say that for real progress, global governance should focus on working together and following the law instead of acting alone.
