US action in Venezuela not legal, senior Labour MP says

The chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has warned that the US military intervention in Venezuela is a "significant violation" of international law and has urged the UK government to condemn the action.

Dame Emily Thornberry became the first senior Labour figure to explicitly denounce the strikes launched by Donald Trump's administration over the weekend. The operation, codenamed "Absolute Resolve," resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who have since been transported to the United States to face narcoterrorism and firearms charges.

"We cannot have violations of international law like this," Dame Emily said on Monday. "We cannot have the law of the jungle. It sets a really bad precedent for countries such as Russia and China, who may also think: 'Well, we've got spheres of influence, why can't we do things like that?'"

The UK's "Fact-Finding" Stance 🇬🇧

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has so far refused to condemn the US action, insisting that the government must "establish the facts" before determining whether the strikes were unlawful.

Speaking to broadcasters, the PM said:

"I always say and believe we should all uphold international law, but I think at this stage—a fast-moving situation—let's establish the facts and take it from there. The UK was not involved in any way in this operation."

 

Home Office Minister Mike Tapp echoed this sentiment, describing Maduro as an "illegitimate killer" but stating it was for the US to "lay out its legal basis" for the raid. He noted that the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is expected to deliver a statement to the House of Commons later today.

Political Outcry and "Anarchy"

Opposition leaders and several Labour backbenchers have been far more critical:

• Liberal Democrats: Sir Ed Davey called the action "illegal" and a "green light" to leaders like Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.

   

• Green Party: Zack Polanski branded the strikes a "genocide" of international norms and called on the government to oppose Trump's "impunity."

   

• SNP: First Minister John Swinney said it was "absolutely critical" for nations to function within a rules-based system.

   

• Reform UK: Nigel Farage acknowledged the operation broke international law but suggested it might be a "good thing" if it acts as a deterrent to China and Russia.

   

Conversely, the Conservative Party has been more cautious. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said "nobody will shed tears" for Maduro's removal but noted that the UK awaits the full facts of the operation.

Situation in Venezuela 🇻🇪

Following the pre-dawn raid on Saturday, which reportedly left at least 40 people dead, the US has asserted it is temporarily "in charge" of Venezuela to ensure a transition to democracy and to secure the country's oil infrastructure.

• Interim Leadership: Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the presidency in Maduro's absence, though Trump has expressed a desire for US involvement in running the country's oil industry.

   

• Legal Charges: Maduro and Flores are currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and are scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court today.

   

• International Reaction: The United Nations and the European Union have both expressed "deep alarm," calling the operation a "dangerous precedent" that threatens regional stability.