1 day ago
14
BBC
The UK was not involved "in any way" in the US-led strikes on Venezuela, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Sir Keir said he had not yet spoken to US President Donald Trump about the US operation to seize President Nicolas Maduro in the country's capital, Caracas.
Asked if he condemned the US action, as a number of other UK politicians have, he told reporters he wanted to "establish facts" and speak to Trump first about the "fast moving situation".
The prime minister also said he was working with the UK embassy in Venezuela to ensure around 500 British citizens in the South American country are "well looked-after, safeguarded and get appropriate advice".
Starmer said: "I always say and believe we should uphold international law.
"But I think at this stage [in a] fast moving situation, let's establish the facts and take it from there.
"I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump.
"I want to speak to allies. As I say I can be absolutely clear we were not involved in that."
Trump said Venezuela's left-wing president and his wife were flown out of the country in a military operation in conjunction with US law enforcement.
Elite Delta Force soldiers were used in the raid to capture them, according to the BBC's North American partner, CBS News.
Maduro has been indicted in New York on drugs and weapon charges, according to US officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he anticipates no further action against Venezuela.
The strikes inside Venezuela come after sustained US pressure against the Maduro government.
The US has accused the Venezuelan president of being personally involved in drug-smuggling and being an illegitimate leader, while Maduro has accused the US of intimidation.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said "nobody will shed tears" that Maduro had been "removed".
She said: "We have always strongly condemned Maduro's brutal and repressive regime and the Conservative government did not consider Maduro's administration as legitimate.
"We await the full facts about the US operation which has removed Maduro and we want to see the Venezuelan people enjoy democratic norms and freedoms.
"This is clearly a very serious geopolitical moment."
Sir Ed Davey urged Starmer to condemn the US actions.
The Liberal Democrat leader said: "Keir Starmer should condemn Trump's illegal action in Venezuela. Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but unlawful attacks like this make us all less safe.
"Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the "unorthodox" military operation by the US could prove a deterrent to future Russian and Chinese aggression.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on the PM to condemn the US military strike, which he described as "illegal" and a "breach of international human rights law".
The European Union's top diplomat said the situation in Venezuela was being closely monitored.
Kaja Kallas said the EU had repeatedly stated that Maduro "lacks legitimacy" but defended a peaceful transition.
She said that "under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint", adding that "the safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority".
