The British government has said it is “not entirely clear” what it means for the United States to be in charge of Venezuela, following a US strike on the capital and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News that the UK would wait to determine whether there had been a breach of international law.
Mr Jones stressed that the UK was “not in favour of colonialism” and said it was important to move quickly towards a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela that reflected the will of the people. He reiterated that the UK had no involvement and was not informed of the US plan, adding that it was not for Britain to judge the operation’s success.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to speak directly to President Donald Trump before making any judgment on the legality of the action. “I’ve been a lifelong advocate of international law,” he told the BBC, but said he needed all the facts before reaching a decision.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, criticised Starmer’s hesitation, warning it would give Trump licence for hostile acts against other sovereign countries. “First Venezuela, next Greenland?” he posted on social media, urging a united front with European allies against Trump’s threats.
Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands KC described the US action as “manifestly illegal under international law” and said Starmer’s failure to condemn it “speaks volumes”. In contrast, Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice defended the operation, arguing it was in accordance with US domestic law and that comparisons with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were “chalk and cheese”.
