Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said the world’s major powers have abandoned international law and act without restraint, delivering the remarks in a video posted to his official Facebook page amid international reaction to a U.S. military operation in Venezuela announced by President Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
Fico’s comments highlight growing global concerns over the role of international law and multilateral institutions when powerful nations carry out unilateral military actions. His remarks reflect anxiety among smaller states about the erosion of legal norms designed to regulate the use of force and protect national sovereignty.
What to Know
In a video released on his Facebook account, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that powerful countries act neither democratically nor fairly, arguing that “the great powers today literally do whatever they want” and have “completely erased the existence of international law and the necessity of observing it.”
Fico also criticized the United Nations, saying it is “on its knees,” and described the U.N. Security Council as “completely toothless” without reform and stronger enforcement authority.
His comments came after President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country, according to a statement posted by the White House on X.
What People Are Saying
Fico said that when a country is large and powerful, it does not behave democratically or fairly, and when it does attempt to follow those principles, it ceases to be powerful. He argued that this imbalance has allowed major powers to disregard international law with little consequence.
The Slovak prime minister also warned that the weakening of global institutions leaves smaller nations vulnerable, emphasizing that international law was created to restrain power rather than legitimize it.
What Happens Next
The U.S. administration has said additional details about the Venezuela operation would be provided at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago. International reaction is expected to continue as governments and institutions assess the legal and diplomatic implications of the strike.
Meanwhile, Fico’s remarks are likely to add to broader international debate over the future of the United Nations, the authority of the Security Council, and whether existing global frameworks can effectively constrain the actions of powerful states.
