Venezuelan invasion cannot be justified:

A public statement by Quakers in Aotearoa New Zealand

The Quaker community in Aotearoa is alarmed at the aggressive actions in Venezuela by the US Administration.

The US Administration’s stated motivations for kidnappings, killing and ongoing threats are unjustified. Such action and threats are risking the security of New Zealand and our region by denigrating the standards and agreements that have been the basis of our global and regional order for the last 80 years. 

We call upon the New Zealand Government to immediately and publicly condemn the illegal aggression and further threats by the US Administration which undermine rules-based international order.

We also urge the New Zealand Government to work with other nations and with the United Nations to bring pressure on the US Administration to cease such actions. 

As Quakers, we totally oppose all wars, all preparation for war, all use of weapons and coercion by force, and all military alliances: no end could ever justify such means.

6 January 2026