MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 4 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 3 January): BRATISLAVA - Without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), any attack on a sovereign country and its representative is a gross violation of international law, regardless of the regime ruling the attacked country, President Peter Pellegrini stated on a social network on Saturday in response to current developments in Venezuela, adding that this creates a precedent that may destabilise other regions in the world as well. US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the United States launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and that its President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, were captured and flown out of the country. Trump said that this operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. Trump has accused Maduro of heading a drug trafficking network, an allegation the Venezuelan president denies. BRATISLAVA - The US military operation in Venezuela is further evidence of the collapse of the world order created after WWII, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on social media on Saturday. According to him, international law no longer applies, military force is being used without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council, and those who are big and powerful do whatever they want in pursuing their own interests. "As the head of government of a small country, I must resolutely reject such dismantling of international law, just as I did in the case of the war in Iraq, in refusing to recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state, or as regards the use of Russian military force in Ukraine, or in my assessment of the situation in Gaza," stated Fico, adding that he is very curious to see how the EU will respond to the attack on Venezuela, an act that deserves to be condemned. By his estimate, the EU will either condemn the use of U.S. military force against Venezuela and remain somewhat consistent with its positions on the war in Ukraine, or "will continue being hypocritical, as usual". BRATISLAVA - Respect for international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter has vanished, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated in connection with the US attack on Venezuela, according to information provided to TASR by the ministry's communications department on Saturday. "Any military operation without a mandate from the UN Security Council confirms what I've been often saying during negotiations with our partners, namely the massive erosion of the international rules established when the UN was founded after WWII. International law cannot be approached selectively as one sees fit," said Blanar. The ministry is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela. Blanar confirmed that he had communicated with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas regarding her phone call on Saturday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "I expect a joint statement on behalf of the EU27 during the course of today, as announced by High Representative Kaja Kallas," added Blanar. BRATISLAVA - The states of the free world must insist on the adherence to international law as regards the attack on Venezuela, while also acting in line with the United Nations (UN) Charter, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party stated on Saturday. "No one will miss [Venezuelan president] Nicolas Maduro. He's an illegitimate president who had his political opponents killed and, along with his mentor Hugo Chavez, they turned one of the most successful countries in Latin America into a failed dictatorship. During their rule, millions of people fled Venezuela to escape violence and hunger," according to PS. Opposition MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'–'For the People' caucus) said nothing good will come out of US President Donald Trump's attack on Venezuela, and the world will only face further hikes in energy prices, as well as new instability. Also, opening Pandora's box poses a threat to the security of the entire world, she added. As the leader of the most powerful country in the world, Trump's goal should be to achieve a just peace in Ukraine and strengthen cooperation within NATO, rather than adding fuel to global threats, said Remisova. In this connection, the opposition 'Slovakia' party stated that military conflict is never a good thing. According to Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party MP Juraj Krupa, the attack on Venezuela should put an end to Trump's hopes of being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. "Drug cartels are evil, but they are organised crime, not armed forces threatening the sovereignty of the United States. Imperial behaviour aimed at dividing spheres of influence will always lead to wars - like the one we see in Ukraine, for example," said Krupa. jrg