Keir Starmer ‘desires to talk to Trump’ over Venezuela raid as PM breaks silence
US President Donald Trump announced the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been captured after a series of blasts tore through Venezuela’s capital this morning
Keir Starmer has stressed the importance of international law after US military strikes in Venezuela on Saturday morning.
US President Donald Trumphttps://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/venezuela-explosions-live-air-strikes-36457497 announced the Venezuelan leader after a series of blasts tore through Venezuela ‘s capital this morning. Fort Tiuna – the site of the Venezuelan ministry of defense, is said to be among the areas hit, while an area of southern Caracas, close to a major military base, has been without electricity.
Speaking on Saturday, the PM refused to condemn the strikes, telling the BBC he had not spoken to the US President, but was working to “establish all the facts”. He said: “What I can say is that the UK was not involved in this operation. As you can expect, we are focusing on British nationals in Venezuela and working very closely with our Embassy.
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“And so I would want to talk to the President, and I would want to talk to allies for the moment. I think we need to establish the facts. I think President Trump is doing a press conference later, so hopefully more information will come out there.”
Mr Starmer refused to condemn Mr Trump when challenged, again repeating the need for more information. He said: “First, I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies, as I say I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved in that. And as you know, I always say, and believe we should all uphold international law. But I think at this stage, it’s a fast-moving situation, establish the facts and take it from there.”
In a message to the Brits still in Venezuela, the PM added the UK Government was working to keep them safe. He said: “There’s about 500 there in Venezuela and we’re working with the Embassy to make sure they are well looked after – safeguarded and get appropriate advice. There is a small number but an important number, about 500.”
Residents poured out onto the streets overnight reporting at least seven explosions and aircraft flying low over the city of Caracas. Tensions remain high following escalating threats from Trump towards the Venezuelan president. Loud noises were heard across the city and smoke was seen rising from at least one location.
The US president later said “large scale strikes against Venezuela” had been carried out and added Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country”. The bombing of Venezuela’s capital Caracas comes after a long running feud between the US and the Latin American nation. Mr Trump has long accused Venezuela of flooding the US with drugs – and in 2020 President Nicolas Maduro was indicted in the US on narco-terrorism charges.
Earlier, the Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey had urged the PM to criticise the operation. He 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.”
The Green Party leader Zack Polanski also called on the PM to condemn the US military strikes. In a post on X, Mr Polanski said: “The PM and Foreign Secretary should be condemning this illegal strike and breach of international human rights law. After years of arming a genocide and worshipping the “special relationship”, Trump now believes he can act with impunity.”
