A senior British lawmaker has accused the United States of violating international law following its controversial military operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
Dame Emily Thornberry, Chair of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Monday that the U.S. action amounted to a breach of international law and could set a dangerous precedent in global affairs. According to her, allowing powerful nations to use force unilaterally in another country undermines the principles of state sovereignty and the global rules-based order.
Her comments came after U.S. forces carried out an operation in Caracas over the weekend, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife. They were flown to New York to face U.S. charges related to drug trafficking and organised crime, a move Washington has defended as a law-enforcement action rather than a military invasion.
However, legal experts and international observers say the scale of the operation raises serious concerns. Under the United Nations Charter, the use of force against another country is only permitted in cases of self-defence or with authorisation from the UN Security Council. Reports indicate that neither condition was met in this case.
Thornberry warned that Western silence on the issue could encourage other major powers to take similar actions in future.
“If we allow this to pass without challenge, we risk a world where might is right,” she said, adding that countries such as China and Russia could feel emboldened to intervene in other nations under similar justifications.
The UK government has so far taken a cautious stance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was for the United States to explain the legal basis for its actions, stressing that Britain was not involved in the operation.
At the United Nations, diplomats confirmed that the Security Council would discuss the situation this week, as several member states seek clarity on the legality of the U.S. move.
Meanwhile in Venezuela, uncertainty remains over the country’s political future. Residents in Caracas reported tension and confusion following the sudden removal of the long-serving leader, as rival factions struggle to assert control.
The development has deepened divisions in the international community, with some governments backing the U.S. for targeting alleged criminal networks, while others insist that no country has the right to unilaterally arrest a sitting head of state on foreign soil.
As global leaders debate the issue, the episode is shaping up to be one of the most serious tests of international law and diplomacy in recent years.
