A senior Cabinet minister has publicly supported Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cautious approach to commenting on the recent US military operation in Venezuela, stating the leader is selecting his language with deliberate care.
Defending a Measured Stance
Health Secretary Wes Streeting asserted that Sir Keir was focused on "how to make a challenging situation better, not worse" for both European security and the people of Venezuela. Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, Streeting described the events in Venezuela as further symptoms of a crumbling rules-based international system.
"And a world without rules is a world in which we are all less safe," he told the programme.
The Prime Minister has faced internal pressure from Labour backbenchers to directly condemn the US raid on Caracas on Saturday, 3 January, which resulted in the capture of then-president Nicolas Maduro. Despite this, Sir Keir has been reluctant to issue a direct criticism, with Europe still reliant on Washington for security support regarding Ukraine.
Internal Pressure and International Law
On Monday, the Prime Minister stated that international law must serve as the "anchor" for Venezuela's future and that the United States must justify its actions. He stopped short of labelling the operation a breach.
Prominent critics include Dame Emily Thornberry, Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, who has called the raid a clear violation of international law. While Streeting expressed "enormous respect" for Dame Emily, he highlighted that the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper bear a different responsibility, where their words "carry different weight".
"I appreciate there are others who have been more strident," Streeting said. "The Prime Minister has a different responsibility, and he is choosing his words carefully and wisely to try and influence how events unfold from here on."
Global Repercussions and Legal Questions
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper informed MPs she had stressed the importance of international law in talks with US counterpart Marco Rubio but did not state whether the US had breached it. The operation potentially violates Article 2 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned" that international rules were not respected, warning the US action could set a dangerous precedent.
Following the raid, Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in a New York court on Monday, 5 January, claiming he was a prisoner of war. His deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, has been sworn in as interim leader.
Downing Street has not yet clarified whether UK sanctions on Ms Rodriguez will be lifted, with the Prime Minister's spokesman stating the government is focused on supporting stability in Venezuela and the interests of its people during this "fast-moving situation".
