The dramatic ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro through direct US military action has sent shockwaves through the international community, presenting the United Kingdom with a significant and uncomfortable diplomatic dilemma. The events of January 3, 2026, which saw explosions rock Caracas, including at the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, have culminated in a controversial victory for President Donald Trump but a profound problem for allies like Britain.
A Question of Legitimacy and World Order
According to Professor Michael Clarke, Visiting Professor at King’s College London and former head of the RUSI defence think tank, the American operation carries no obvious international legitimacy. Formally, the United States has acted illegally, dealing another blow to the established global order. While many celebrated the end of Maduro's dictatorial rule, the method of his removal sets a dangerous precedent.
Professor Clarke argues this is part of a pattern of expansionism from the Trump administration, following serious intent regarding Greenland and the Panama Canal. The justification shifted from narcotics to a decisive regime change, driven in part by the need to achieve a result after a massive military build-up in the Caribbean. Having built up such a large task force, Trump couldn’t stand it down until something had been achieved, Clarke notes.
Oil, Interests, and a Neat Victory
The strategic importance of Venezuela's vast oil reserves is undeniable. The action serves to protect the interests of US oil giant Chevron and represents a stark defeat for Venezuela's traditional allies: Russia, China, and Iran. On the surface, the outcome appears a terrific tactical victory for President Trump, seemingly resolving a long-standing crisis with surprising neatness.
However, this tactical win creates strategic uncertainty. The precedent that a nation's lack of democratic legitimacy—Maduro's controversial 2024 election win being a prime example—justifies foreign-imposed regime change is one that could theoretically be applied to numerous states worldwide, undermining the very foundation of sovereignty.
Britain's Uncomfortable Position
For the UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and for Europe broadly, the situation is deeply unsettling. Having stated it had no involvement in the strikes, Britain is now allied to a power Professor Clarke describes as behaving like a rogue state in this instance. The US, traditionally the leader of the free world, is now seen as a revisionist power unilaterally changing rules.
This leaves Britain in a precarious spot. The UK has long relied on the US to champion liberal democracies and free trade. Now, it must reconcile its alliance with Washington against a backdrop of actions taken with questionable legality. While Maduro's departure may benefit Venezuela, the manner of its engineering is damaging to world order and poses a severe headache for British policymakers navigating this new, volatile reality.
