The British government has stated it is 'not entirely clear' what American control of Venezuela entails, following a dramatic military operation by the United States that resulted in the capture of the country's president, Nicolás Maduro.
UK Awaits Legal Assessment and Calls for Transition
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said the UK would wait to determine whether the US action constituted a breach of international law. The operation, which took place on Saturday, saw US forces attack the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and detain President Maduro and his wife.
Jones emphasised that the UK was not involved in the planning of the strike and had not been informed beforehand. 'It's not for us to judge whether it's been a success or not. That's for the Americans to speak to,' he stated.
While refraining from dictating Venezuela's political future, Jones stressed the need for a rapid move towards a 'peaceful transition to a president in Venezuela that has the support of the people of Venezuela.'
Political Reactions and Colonialism Concerns
Following the capture, former US President Donald Trump announced that the US would run Venezuela until a 'safe, proper and judicious transition' could be arranged. When questioned on Sky News about whether this amounted to colonialism, Darren Jones responded that the UK was 'not in favour of colonialism' and remained unclear on Trump's precise meaning.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed the need for caution, stating he wanted to speak to Trump directly and gather all facts before making a judgment on the legality of the action. 'I've been a lifelong advocate of international law and the importance of compliance with international law,' he told the BBC.
In contrast, a deputy leader of Reform UK defended the US intervention, arguing it was executed under US domestic law for self-defence and was incomparable to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'The reality is that an enemy of the West has been removed,' they said, while warning against creating a power vacuum.
Pathway to Democracy in Question
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel highlighted the democratic deficit in Venezuela, noting that Maduro lacked a clear mandate. She pointed to the cancelled 2024 election result, which was won by an opposition leader, as a key issue.
'We believe in democracy, and the question has to be now... what that pathway to democracy is going to be for Venezuela,' Patel stated, anticipating that the British Foreign Secretary would raise these points with her US counterpart.
The UK government's cautious stance underscores the complex diplomatic and legal questions arising from the unprecedented US intervention, as the world watches for the next steps in Venezuela's turbulent political landscape.
