Overview
- Donald Trump confirmed large-scale US strikes in Venezuela and said Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.
- The US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, said both have SDNY indictments that include narcoterrorism and weapons charges and vowed prosecution in American courts.
- Keir Starmer said the UK was not involved in the operation, is seeking to establish the facts with Washington, and later stated Britain would shed no tears over the end of Maduro's regime while supporting a transition.
- The UK Foreign Office advised against all travel to Venezuela and told British nationals there to shelter in place, with consular teams focused on roughly 500 citizens.
- International reaction highlighted legal concerns, with the UN stressing respect for international law and UK political figures split between condemning the action and arguing it could deter rivals.