The Prime Minister said Britain was not involved in the stikes or the the capture of the country’s president Nicolas Maduro, but declined to condemn the action.
13:41, 03 Jan 2026Updated 13:42, 03 Jan 2026
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken out(Image: PA)
The UK was “not involved in any way” in the US strike on Venezuela, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister said he wanted to speak to US President Donald Trump and “establish the facts” after the overnight operation which saw multiple explosions ring out and low-flying aircraft sweep over Caracas.
The US president said Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country after months of pressure from Washington. He is expected to hold a news conference later. Asked whether he had spoken to Mr Trump on Saturday, Sir Keir said: “No, I haven’t, and it’s obviously a fast-moving situation, and we need to establish all the facts.
Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026.(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“What I can say is that the UK was not involved in any way in this operation, and as you’d expect, we’re focusing on British nationals in Venezuela (and) working very closely with our embassy. I want to talk to the president. I will want to talk to allies, but at 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 then.”
Asked whether he condemned the action, the Prime Minister said: “I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump, I want to speak to allies.”
US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He added: “I always say and believe we should all uphold international law, but I think at this stage, fast-moving situation, let’s establish the facts and take it from there.” President Maduro has been charged with drugs and weapons offences, it has emerged.
The leader and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York, according to US attorney general Pam Bondi. The Justice Department claim the Venezuelan leader turned his country into a ‘criminal enterprise’ by working with drug traffickers and embezzling billions.