The UK has said it is “not entirely clear” what the United States intends by running Venezuela, following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by American forces. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said Britain would wait to determine whether international law had been breached before making any judgement.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Jones urged a swift move towards a peaceful transition of power in the country. “It’s for the Americans now and for Venezuela to set out what happens in the coming days,” he said, adding that the UK had no prior knowledge of the operation and was not involved.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed that caution, saying he wanted all the facts before deciding on the legality of the US action. A lifelong advocate of international law, he told the BBC he would not shy away from the issue but needed to speak directly to President Trump first. The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, criticised Starmer’s hesitancy, warning it could encourage further hostile acts against sovereign nations.
Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands KC described the US capture as “manifestly illegal”, while Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice defended the action, arguing it fell within US domestic law and was not comparable to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK government maintains that a transition reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people is the priority.
