“I want to get all the facts together and we haven’t got the full picture,” was the response of British prime minister Keir Starmer when asked whether he would condemn the US strikes in Venezuela as the “action against the sovereign state,” the way he has always done and asked for in case of Putin and Russian invasion of Ukraine. Keir Starmer declined to immediately condemn US President Donald Trump’s military action against Venezuela and capture of its deposed President Nicolas Maduro, saying the situation was “fast moving” and that all material facts were yet to be established. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Starmer was pressed by the journalist on whether he would denounce what was described as an attack on a sovereign nation, drawing a parallel with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Starmer has consistently condemned.“You’ve always been incredibly clear that Vladimir Putin’s attack on the sovereign country of Ukraine was wrong and ought to be condemned. What about President Trump’s attack on the sovereign country of Venezuela?” the journalist asked, adding that the US president had publicly claimed that his administration had struck Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro.Starmer responded, “Well, at the moment, it’s a fast moving situation.” When interrupted with a follow-up – “We do know that. So will you condemn that action against the sovereign states?” – the UK prime minister said he was not yet in a position to do so.“Well, I want to get all the material facts together and we simply haven’t got the full picture at the moment,” Starmer said. “It’s fast moving and we need to piece that together.”He emphasised that Britain was not involved in the operation. “I can be really clear with you that there was no UK involvement in this operation,” he said, adding that the government was focused on the safety of British nationals in Venezuela through its embassy.Starmer also expressed his commitment to international law but maintained that any response would depend on verified information. “I don’t shy away from this. I’ve been a lifelong advocate of international law and the importance of compliance with international law,” he said. “But I want to ensure that I’ve got all the facts at my disposal… before we come to a decision about the consequences in relation to the actions that have been taken.”
