A senior British minister has stated that a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela must be achieved "quickly" following the dramatic US-led capture of the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.
UK Distances Itself From US Operation
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, confirmed that the United Kingdom was not involved in and was not informed about the American military operation carried out on Saturday. The action saw Maduro and his wife flown to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.
"The first thing to say is it was an American operation. The United Kingdom was not involved in any way," Mr Jones told Sky News. "We were not informed of it beforehand. So it's not for us to judge whether it's been a success or not."
Uncertainty Over American Plans
Following the capture, US President Donald Trump declared that America would "run" Venezuela until a safe transfer of power could be arranged. He also outlined plans to exploit the nation's oil infrastructure.
Mr Jones expressed that the UK Government was "not entirely clear" on what this American stewardship would entail. He emphasised that while the UK-US intelligence relationship is vital, it is not for a "third country" to decide Venezuela's future government.
"It's for the Americans now and for Venezuela to set out what happens in the coming days," the minister, a close ally of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stated.
Political Reactions and Strategic Dilemmas
The intervention, described as the most assertive US move for regime change since the 2003 Iraq invasion, has sparked debate in Westminster. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel argued the UK "absolutely" should have anticipated the action, citing a visible build-up of US forces in the region.
Prime Minister Starmer has faced pressure to condemn the US action but has prioritised maintaining the critical defence and security partnership with Washington. In a BBC interview, Sir Keir said the UK would "shed no tears" over Maduro's departure but stressed the paramount importance of the transatlantic alliance.
"Our defence, our security and our intelligence relationship with the US matters probably more than any other relationship we've got in the world," the Prime Minister said, acknowledging differences with President Trump while committing to a working relationship.
