British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom was not involved in the United States’ military action in Venezuela and stressed the importance of upholding international law, as questions mounted over Washington’s capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Speaking to British broadcasters on Saturday, Starmer said the situation was still developing and that he wanted to speak directly with U.S. President Donald Trump to understand what had taken place, according to Reuters.

Starmer Seeks Clarity on U.S. Action

“It’s obviously a fast-moving situation and we need to establish all the facts,” Starmer said, adding that Britain had played no role in the operation. He emphasized that international law should be respected while he consulted with U.S. officials and other allies.

Trump said in a social media post early Saturday that U.S. forces had captured Maduro and removed him from Venezuela. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez later said she did not know Maduro’s whereabouts or whether he was still alive, Reuters reported.

Starmer declined to immediately condemn the U.S. action, unlike leaders of Britain’s Liberal Democrat and Green parties, who described the strikes as unlawful. The prime minister said he first wanted to determine exactly what had occurred.

Farage Calls Action Unlawful but Potentially Deterrent

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party and currently leading in opinion polls, said he believed the U.S. actions violated international law but suggested they could have strategic benefits.

“The American actions in Venezuela overnight are unorthodox and contrary to international law — but if they make China and Russia think twice, it may be a good thing,” Farage wrote in a post on X.

Farage added that he hoped the Venezuelan people could “turn a new leaf” following Maduro’s removal.

Britain Focuses on Citizen Safety

Update, Starmer’s latest comment as of the time of this post.

Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, said Britain’s foreign ministry was working to ensure the safety of roughly 500 British citizens currently in Venezuela.

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Venezuela due to security risks, Reuters reported, as diplomatic efforts continue amid uncertainty over the country’s leadership and the broader international response.