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Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has urged her American counterpart, Marco Rubio, to uphold international law amid recent US military involvement in Venezuela. This reminder came during her address to MPs after the United States launched an operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The action has sparked criticism accusing the US of violating international legal norms.
Cooper’s remarks marked a firmer stance compared to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has so far refrained from directly condemning the US operation, instead emphasizing the oppressive nature of Maduro’s regime. The debate in Parliament grew heated, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressing disappointment over the prime minister’s lack of commentary. Badenoch suggested the government was too detached from the UK’s closest security ally and insisted that cooperation with the US should be constructive rather than critical.
The UK government has been under increasing pressure to condemn the US actions outright. Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for Labour, called for clarity in denouncing the breach of international law. Security analysts have expressed concern that the US move could destabilize international relations and might encourage other leaders, including Russia’s president, to disregard global agreements. Meanwhile, Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom, shackled, alongside his wife Cilia Flores, insisting he had been kidnapped.
During her first formal statement in Parliament on this matter, Cooper confirmed she had discussed the importance of legal compliance with Secretary Rubio and that the UK would continue to press all nations to respect international law. She also mentioned ongoing discussions about how the UK might assist the peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela that honors the Venezuelan people’s will. Badenoch acknowledged understanding the motives behind the US action, pointing to longstanding UK policy supporting a move away from authoritarian rule. She also highlighted concerns about safeguarding the international rules-based order despite condemning Maduro’s regime.
Labour and opposition parties, including the Liberal Democrats and SNP, have intensified calls for the government to explicitly denounce the US intervention. Dame Emily Thornberry warned of the “profound risk” to international norms if breaches were not called out, emphasizing the West’s responsibility to uphold these standards. Cooper reiterated her commitment to urging adherence to international law but refrained from labeling the US actions as an outright breach.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticized the UK government’s reluctance to call the US intervention a “clear breach of international law,” while acknowledging Maduro’s dictatorship. Labour MP Richard Burgon condemned the military action as “disgusting” and accused the prime minister of double standards, suggesting that such a response would differ if the action had come from Russia. Cooper cautioned against equating the US operation in Venezuela with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the severe human rights abuses connected to the latter, including the forced removal of thousands of Ukrainian children.
These developments continue to spark fierce debate about the balance between international law, sovereign intervention, and the pursuit of democratic values on the global stage
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