Burak Bir
03 January 2026•Update: 03 January 2026
LONDON
The British prime minister on Saturday held off the question of condemning the US strikes on Venezuela, stressing that the UK was not involved in the strikes “in any way” and that first he wants to get the facts from the ground.
Asked by reporters if he condemned the US strikes, as a number of other UK lawmakers have done, Keir Starmer said he wants to "establish facts" and speak to US President Donald Trump first about the "fast-moving situation."
"What I can say is that the UK was not involved in any way in this operation, and as you expect, we're focusing on British nationals in Venezuela are working very closely with our embassy," he noted.
He said that amid a fast-moving situation, he wants to "establish the facts and take it from there."
"I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies, as I say I can be absolutely clear we were not involved in that," added Starmer.
"I always say and believe we should uphold international law," he added.
The prime minister also said he was working with the UK Embassy in Venezuela to ensure some 500 British citizens in the South American country are "well looked-after, safeguarded, and get appropriate advice."
Earlier, many UK politicians, including political party leaders, condemned the US strikes and called them a violation of international law.
Venezuela’s government accused the US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared a national emergency.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump confirmed the "large scale" strike, adding that Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country."
The attacks came after months of growing US pressure on Maduro, who Washington accuses of being involved in drug trafficking. The Venezuelan leader had denied the claims and expressed readiness for talks.
Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said they were "unaware" of Maduro's whereabouts, demanding the Trump administration provide "proof of life” of the president.
