British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has formally challenged United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding Washington’s recent military intervention in Venezuela, emphasizing the critical importance of adhering to international legal standards. This diplomatic confrontation occurred following the controversial capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces under President Donald Trump’s authorization over the weekend.
Addressing Parliament during a tense session in the House of Commons, Cooper revealed she had explicitly raised compliance with international law during discussions with Rubio, marking the British government’s first official statement on the escalating situation. Her stance notably diverged from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s more cautious approach, which has focused primarily on condemning Maduro’s authoritarian regime without directly criticizing U.S. actions.
The political divide deepened as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed disappointment with the government’s response, advocating for stronger alignment with Washington. Badenoch defended the U.S. operation as a necessary measure against drug trafficking and potential terrorism, while simultaneously acknowledging concerns about the precedent it might establish for global norms.
Cross-party pressure mounted significantly during the parliamentary debate. Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that Britain must unequivocally declare the U.S. operation a violation of international law. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey characterized the government’s hesitant stance as ‘ridiculous,’ while Labour backbencher Richard Burgon condemned the prime minister’s apparent reluctance to challenge Trump as ‘cowardly and craven.’
Security analysts warned that the U.S. intervention could potentially destabilize international relations and embolden other world leaders to disregard established international agreements. Cooper addressed these concerns by drawing careful distinctions between Venezuela and Ukraine, cautioning against equating Trump’s actions with Putin’s invasion and systematic deportation of Ukrainian children, which resulted in an international arrest warrant against the Russian leader.
The government maintains its primary focus should remain on supporting Venezuela’s peaceful transition to democracy while continuing diplomatic efforts to uphold international legal standards through United Nations channels.