Scotland’s first minister has suggested the US broke international law by attacking Venezuela and capturing its president.
John Swinney said he has listened carefully to what has been said by the Trump administration since the military operation, and although the Maduro regime was “illegitimate and authoritarian”, he “cannot see how international law has been respected here”.
The SNP leader’s remarks are in contrast to the prime minister, who has changed his tune slightly from the weekend but remains cautious about saying whether Donald Trump broke international law.
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US airstrikes were carried out across Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday morning, when President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown to the US, arriving in New York on Sunday, where they were charged with narco-terrorism.
Mr Trump said on Saturday the US will “run” Venezuela until a “proper transition” can take place.
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At the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC he was waiting to establish all the facts but would not “shy away from this”, adding he was a “lifelong advocate of international law”.
In a slight strengthening of his position, Sir Keir told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on Monday: “It’s for the US to set out its justifications for the actions that it’s taken.
“But it is a complicated situation. It remains a complicated situation.”
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All but one EU nation (Hungary) called for international law to be respected over Venezuela on Sunday night, as did Canada and Norway.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was quick to come out and condemn the US’s actions, with a UN statement saying: “He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected.”
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Pressed on why he would not say the same, Sir Keir told Sky News: “I’m going to be clear that I believe in international law. I’ve long been an advocate for international law.
“I’m absolutely clear that this is the framework that applies. Obviously, it’ll be for the US to set out that justification in relation to the action.”
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The prime minister had more clarity when it came to Greenland, which Mr Trump has again said he wants to take over for its natural resources and strategic defence position.
“Let me be really clear about Greenland – the future for Greenland is for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark,” Sir Keir said.
“Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally. And the future therefore has to be for Greenland, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
