UK Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has defended the United States military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, arguing that while the legality of the action may be debated, it was morally justified.
Speaking during an interview on the BBC Today programme, Badenoch departed from the cautious stance taken by many senior British officials. She said that in situations where legal clarity is uncertain, moral judgement can still apply.
According to her, Venezuela’s political situation made the US intervention different from previous cases that attracted criticism from Britain. She described the Maduro government as a brutal regime that had lost legitimacy, noting that the UK did not recognise it as a lawful administration.
Badenoch said she understood why the United States acted, describing the events in Venezuela as extraordinary but not unexpected given the country’s prolonged crisis.
She linked her position to her personal background, explaining that her views were shaped by growing up under military rule in Nigeria. She said her lived experience gave her insight into what it means for citizens to live under authoritarian leadership and why people might celebrate the removal of such leaders.
While acknowledging that the operation raised serious concerns about the rules based international order, Badenoch questioned the strength and enforceability of international law. She argued that international agreements only hold power as long as countries continue to respect them.
She also questioned why international law concerns were not raised earlier, pointing to claims that foreign actors such as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah had already exerted influence in Venezuela long before the US intervention.
Responding to remarks from senior US officials suggesting that global affairs are driven by strength rather than rules, Badenoch said the world had changed and that Britain needed to project strength in an increasingly unstable international environment.
She noted that the UK had no control over US actions and that Venezuela was geographically distant, but stressed that global respect is often tied to power rather than moral appeals.
Badenoch’s comments marked a shift from her earlier position, when she urged caution and said the UK was monitoring developments closely. At the time, she emphasised the importance of listening to Venezuelans pushing for democratic change rather than rushing to conclusions.
The US operation was announced by President Donald Trump, who said American forces had captured Maduro and his wife and that the former president would face prosecution in the United States. Trump also said the US would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s administration until conditions allowed for democratic governance.
International reactions have been divided, with some governments warning against violations of sovereignty, while others have focused on the potential impact on Venezuela’s long standing political and economic crisis.
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that the UK played no role in the operation and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to international law, while officials said they were assessing the safety of British nationals in Venezuela.
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