The UK has said it is “not entirely clear” what it means for the United States to be in charge of Venezuela, following a US military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, told Sky News that the UK would wait to determine whether the US had breached international law.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could take place. Asked if this amounted to colonialism, Jones said the UK was “not in favour of colonialism” and was awaiting clarification of Trump’s remarks. He urged a “peaceful transition” to a president with the support of the Venezuelan people.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he wants to speak directly to Trump before making any judgment on the legality of the operation. Starmer, a lifelong advocate of international law, told the BBC he needed “all the facts” before deciding on consequences. The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, criticised Starmer’s hesitancy, warning it could give Trump licence for further hostile acts against sovereign nations.
Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands KC, who has known Starmer for decades, said the US action was “manifestly illegal under international law”. He expressed disappointment at Starmer’s failure to condemn it, urging him to uphold the principles of legality he has championed. Meanwhile, Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, defended the US operation, arguing it was in accordance with US domestic law and not comparable to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
