Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom was not involved “in any way” in the massive US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Prime Minister clarified that he had not yet spoken with President Donald Trump regarding the raid on Caracas but intended to “establish the facts” of the fast-moving situation before issuing a formal diplomatic response. While several UK political leaders have already moved to either condemn or praise the strike, Starmer emphasized that his immediate priority is the safety of approximately 500 British citizens currently in Venezuela.
Okay News reports that the Prime Minister’s cautious stance has sparked a sharp divide across the British political spectrum. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged the government to immediately condemn the “illegal action,” arguing that such unlawful attacks by the Trump administration could provide a “green light” for other global powers to violate international sovereignty. Similarly, Green Party leader Zack Polanski described the military strike as a breach of international human rights law.
Conversely, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage characterized the operation as “unorthodox” but suggested it could serve as a necessary deterrent against future aggression from Russia and China.
The Conservative Party took a middle ground, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel stating that while the party awaits the full facts, “nobody will shed tears” for the removal of Maduro’s “brutal and repressive” regime.
The raid, which reportedly involved elite Delta Force soldiers and U.S. law enforcement, has seen Maduro and his wife flown to the United States, where the former president faces federal indictments in New York on drug and weapon charges. Despite the domestic pressure to take a firm legal stance, Starmer reiterated his commitment to upholding international law while insisting on a direct dialogue with President Trump and other global allies before the UK defines its official position on this major geopolitical event.
