The World Fund for Development and Planning (WFDP) has issued a press statement expressing serious concern over the growing erosion of international law and established diplomatic norms, in light of recent developments related to Venezuela.

The statement follows extensive consultations, high-level meetings, and close monitoring by the Presidency of the Fund, during which the broader implications of these developments for the international system were carefully assessed.

WFDP emphasized that while the incident in question constitutes an exceptional case, the manner in which it has unfolded—and the absence of clear, collective, and legally grounded international responses—raises profound concerns regarding the future of the rules-based international order.

President of WFDP: International Law Is Facing a Dangerous Moment:

In a statement issued by the Office of the President, H.E. Ambassador Ekramy El Zaghat, President of WFDP, warned that the current trajectory represents a serious threat to the foundations of international relations.

“After extensive discussions, meetings, and continuous monitoring by the Presidency of the Fund, we have reached a deeply concerning conclusion,” the President stated.

“What we are witnessing today is not merely an isolated incident, but a moment that exposes the fragility of international law and diplomatic norms when they are not consistently upheld. The erosion of these principles, if allowed to continue, risks pushing the international system toward a state governed by power rather than law.”

Distinguishing Between Violations and Escalation:

WFDP noted that the international community has experienced numerous violations of international law in recent years, including targeted assassinations carried out outside judicial frameworks, actions that have drawn widespread legal and human rights criticism, including those attributed to Israel in various regional contexts.

However, the Fund stressed the importance of legal distinction.

While such actions represent serious breaches of international law, they do not equate—either legally or politically—to the public abduction of a sitting head of state before the international community. WFDP warned that tolerance of such acts represents a qualitative escalation that directly undermines the principles of state sovereignty, diplomatic immunity, and the long-standing conventions governing relations between states.

Risk of Precedent and Systemic Collapse:

According to the statement, the principal danger lies in the risk that exceptional violations may gradually be normalized, transforming isolated incidents into precedents.

“International legal history teaches us that the collapse of norms rarely occurs suddenly,” the President added.

“It begins when exceptional acts are treated as tolerable, and when silence replaces accountability. This is how international systems enter periods of instability and darkness.” 

WFDP cautioned that any weakening of protections afforded to heads of state and diplomatic norms would disproportionately affect developing countries and states with limited political leverage, further destabilizing global relations.

A Call for Collective Responsibility:

WFDP reiterated that the current challenge does not stem from a lack of international legal frameworks, but from selective enforcement and inconsistent adherence. The Fund stressed the urgent need to reaffirm multilateralism, respect for international institutions, and equal application of international law. 

“Preserving international stability requires more than legal texts,” the President concluded.

“It requires collective political will, moral clarity, and the courage to uphold international law without exception.”

Conclusion:

The World Fund for Development and Planning affirms that the recent developments related to Venezuela represent a critical test for the international community. Failure to respond within a clear legal and diplomatic framework risks accelerating the erosion of international law and long-established diplomatic norms, with far-reaching consequences for global peace and stability.