UK Cautions Over US Role In Venezuela

The UK has signalled caution after the United States struck Caracas and detained President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, saying it is still trying to work out what Washington means by taking charge of Venezuela. Ministers urged a speedy, peaceful transfer of power that reflects Venezuelans’ wishes — while stopping short of judging the US action until more facts are known. Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, said London is unclear about the implications of the US claim that it will “run” the country until a transition is possible. He stressed the government opposes colonialism and that any next steps should be decided between the US and Venezuela, adding that Britain will wait to see whether international law has been breached before drawing conclusions. Keir Starmer reiterated that the UK had no prior knowledge of or involvement in the operation. He has said he wants to speak directly to President Trump and examine the full set of facts before deciding on Britain’s response, emphasising his long record of supporting international legal norms. The debate at home is already heating up. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticised the government’s measured tone, warning that hesitation could embolden further aggressive acts, and pointed to provocative social-media posts that suggested more territorial ambitions. Greenland’s prime minister called one such image “disrespectful”, and Denmark’s ambassador to Washington underlined the need to respect national borders. Legal and political voices are sharply divided. Prominent human-rights lawyer Philippe Sands KC described the operation as clearly unlawful under international law and said silence from the opposition government is revealing. By contrast, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice defended the US action as legitimate under American law and framed it as removing a hostile actor, while warning against the instability that might follow if a power vacuum forms. Meanwhile, the shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel argued Maduro lacked a legitimate mandate and said the priority should be defining a path back to democratic rule in Venezuela. For Britain, the incident presents a difficult balancing act: uphold international law, support a democratic outcome for Venezuelans, and manage domestic political pressure — all while relying on details that ministers say have yet to emerge. The Commons is expected to press the government for answers when MPs return. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article