The UK government has asked for clarification after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela following what he described as a daring operation to detain President Nicolás Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
Asked by Sky News whether Trump’s wording implied colonial rule, British Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones said the UK does not support colonialism and is “not yet fully clear” what the president meant. “It is for the United States and Venezuela to explain what the next steps will be,” Jones added, stressing that it is not appropriate for a third country to determine Venezuela’s political future.
Pressed on whether international law had been breached, Jones declined to comment, saying that was a matter for international courts.
Trump, speaking Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, said the U.S. would temporarily administer Venezuela “until we can safely, properly and prudently arrange a transfer of power,” arguing Washington could not risk a takeover by actors who would not prioritize Venezuelans’ interests.
The remarks came amid mounting questions over the legality and consequences of any U.S. action in Venezuela, and as regional and international observers sought clarity on how such a transition would be carried out and under what legal authority.