"The United Nations Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday that Venezuela's oil 'belongs' to its people, responding to comments by the United States suggesting that Washington could manage or control the country's oil production. "The oil in Venezuela belongs to the Venezuelan people, just as the oil in Syria belongs to the Syrian people, and the natural resources of any country belong to the people of that country," he stated during a press briefing in New York City. Earlier, US President Donald Trump declared that interim authorities in Venezuela would be turning over between "30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil" to the United States. Responding to questions about reports that the US had captured two Venezuelan-linked Russian oil tankers, the spokesperson stressed that maritime actions must comply with international law. "All law enforcement actions on the oceans and seas are to be taken in accordance with applicable international law in order to ensure maritime safety and security on the high seas," he asserted. Dujarric also confirmed that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had met Venezuela's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Samuel Moncada, at UN headquarters. "There have been issues and tensions between the government and the opposition. […] The secretary-general is offering his good offices to help a national dialogue in Venezuela," he shared. Commenting separately on US remarks about buying Greenland from Denmark, the spokesperson reiterated the UN's position on respecting the territorial integrity of all member states. Dujarric also remarked that the UN was in constant contact with Israeli authorities to help ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, after Israel suspended the operations of two dozen humanitarian organisations, including Doctors Without Borders."