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gentlemen Keir Starmer Refuses to condemn Donald Trump’s shocking takeover of oil-rich Venezuela, says UK ‘will not shed a tear’ On the end of Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
His comments will be seen as an effective endorsement of Mr Trump after the US president shocked the world by announcing he had captured the president. Maduro has temporarily taken over rule of the South American country.
The prime minister faces calls from Labor MPs and opposition politicians to oppose US actions, which include a massive military strike and bombings in the capital Caracas early on Saturday.
But Sir Keir said in a statement: “The UK has long supported the transition of power. Venezuela. We believe Maduro is an illegitimate president and we shed no tears at the end of his regime. “
He added: “This morning I reiterated my support for international law. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with its US counterparts over the coming days as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
But in an interview with BBC Sunday’s Laura Kuenssberg programme, recorded earlier on Saturday, the prime minister refused to say whether President Trump had broken international law, saying he needed to “see the full picture”.
Sir Keir said Britain was not involved “in any way” in the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to Venezuela. There are currently believed to be around 500 British nationals in the country.
Labor MPs had earlier called on the Prime Minister to condemn the US actions.
Kim Johnson, Labor MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “As a country, do we still uphold international law and sovereignty? … This brazen attack is an attempt to seize Venezuela’s resources. We must always uphold international law.”
Leeds East Labor MP Richard Burgon said: “The Prime Minister should respond to Trump’s illegal bombings and kidnappings in the same way that Putin has carried out.
“Keir Starmer either believes in international law or he doesn’t. You can’t pick and choose. It’s time to stand up to Trump’s gangster politics.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also said Sir Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s “illegal actions in Venezuela. Maduro is a brutal and illegal dictator, but illegal attacks like this make us all less safe. Trump is giving the likes of Putin and Xi Jinping a green light to attack other countries with impunity.”
Green Party leader Zach Polanski also accused the US president of thinking he could “get away with it”.
“The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary should condemn this illegal strike and breach of international human rights law,” he said.
But shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: “No one will shed a tear because Nicolas Maduro has been ‘deported’.
She said: “We have always strongly condemned Maduro’s brutal and repressive regime, and the Conservative government does not regard Maduro’s government as legitimate. No one will shed tears when he is ousted.”
“We await the full facts about the U.S. campaign to oust Maduro, and we want to see the Venezuelan people enjoy democratic norms and freedoms.”
British reformist leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the United States’ “unorthodox” military action in Venezuela could have a deterrent effect on future aggression by Russia and China.
He posted on
“I hope the Venezuelan people can now turn a new page without Maduro.”
This is a developing story, more below…
