UK Government Declines to Rule on Legality of US Capture of Venezuela's Maduro
On 4 January 2026, US airstrikes in Venezuela resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were transferred to the US on charges of narco-terrorism in New York.
UK officials have refused to confirm whether the US operation violated international law. Darren Jones stated that the US should clarify its legal justification and highlighted that the UK was not involved or informed prior to the operation. He emphasized that the UK advocates for international law and the rules-based order, asserting that potential breaches should be assessed by international courts rather than the UK government.
Former Foreign Secretary Priti Patel criticized the lack of prior warning to the UK and argued that such action should have been anticipated. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refrained from commenting on the legality, expressing his commitment to international law while awaiting full details.
The operation's legality was also questioned by several other states and international figures, including France, Spain, Canada, Germany, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers remarked that the US operation would not have been approved in the UK or Europe, noting that the US relied on a law-enforcement rationale rather than a defence basis and essentially acted as a law unto itself.
The UK government's initial response reflected uncertainty about former President Trump's comments and the extent of the operation.
