Lords statement on the air strikes conducted by the United States on a series of Venezuelan targets and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Lords statement on the air strikes conducted by the United States on a series of Venezuelan targets and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

My Lords, I begin by associating myself with the condolences expressed by the Foreign Secretary in the other place following the appalling tragedy in Crans-Montana. I know that the victims of that tragic fire, their friends and their families will be in all our thoughts at this very difficult time.

The...

My Lords, I begin by associating myself with the condolences expressed by the Foreign Secretary in the other place following the appalling tragedy in Crans-Montana. I know that the victims of that tragic fire, their friends and their families will be in all our thoughts at this very difficult time.

The...

My Lords, I also associate these Benches with the condolences on the terrible incident in Switzerland.

I start by simply quoting from my right honourable friend Ed Davey, speaking in the House of Commons last evening, when he referred to President Reagan and the United States Administration’s invasion of Grenada. He...

My Lords, I also associate these Benches with the condolences on the terrible incident in Switzerland.

I start by simply quoting from my right honourable friend Ed Davey, speaking in the House of Commons last evening, when he referred to President Reagan and the United States Administration’s invasion of Grenada. He...

I thank the noble Lords for their support for the Foreign Secretary’s remarks on the tragic loss of life that we saw on New Year’s Eve in Switzerland. I am grateful to them for echoing what she said.

The noble Lord, Lord Callanan, asked about discussions with our US counterparts ahead...

I thank the noble Lords for their support for the Foreign Secretary’s remarks on the tragic loss of life that we saw on New Year’s Eve in Switzerland. I am grateful to them for echoing what she said.

The noble Lord, Lord Callanan, asked about discussions with our US counterparts ahead...

My Lords, I remind the noble Baroness that when the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hermer, was sworn in as the Attorney-General on 15 July 2024, he gave a speech in which he said that

“from the Prime Minister down, the new government is comprised of individuals who have the rule...

My Lords, I remind the noble Baroness that when the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hermer, was sworn in as the Attorney-General on 15 July 2024, he gave a speech in which he said that

“from the Prime Minister down, the new government is comprised of individuals who have the rule...

The words that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hermer, said in his speech remain true. Our position on the rule of law has not changed and will not change.

The words that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hermer, said in his speech remain true. Our position on the rule of law has not changed and will not change.

My Lords, surely we should stop being mealy-mouthed about this issue. There is no basis in the international framework of law that can justify this action. If Russia had marched into Ukraine a few years ago, kidnapped its President, put him on trial in Moscow and locked him up, we...

My Lords, surely we should stop being mealy-mouthed about this issue. There is no basis in the international framework of law that can justify this action. If Russia had marched into Ukraine a few years ago, kidnapped its President, put him on trial in Moscow and locked him up, we...

There is no moral equivalence whatever between the illegal invasion of Ukraine and what has happened in Venezuela, the legal arguments for which are for the US to defend. These are not UK actions and our commitment to international law remains.

There is no moral equivalence whatever between the illegal invasion of Ukraine and what has happened in Venezuela, the legal arguments for which are for the US to defend. These are not UK actions and our commitment to international law remains.

If a family member makes what one thinks is a serious mistake, it is often the case that one tries to avoid saying so in public. The Prime Minister is quite right not to attack President Trump in public. What matters now is that the Venezuelans get to decide who...

If a family member makes what one thinks is a serious mistake, it is often the case that one tries to avoid saying so in public. The Prime Minister is quite right not to attack President Trump in public. What matters now is that the Venezuelans get to decide who...

I am happy to confirm to the noble Lord that our chargé in Caracas, Colin, is continuing to do the outstanding job that he has been doing for the last few years. He has excellent relationships that justify the fact that we kept our team there throughout this period.

On Greenland,...

I am happy to confirm to the noble Lord that our chargé in Caracas, Colin, is continuing to do the outstanding job that he has been doing for the last few years. He has excellent relationships that justify the fact that we kept our team there throughout this period.

On Greenland,...

My Lords, first, could the Minister tell us how she thinks that democracy can be introduced in Venezuela? Clearly, the agenda of President Trump is not about liberating Venezuela or bringing in democracy, so how do our Government see that happening? Repression and banditry are continuing on the streets of...

My Lords, first, could the Minister tell us how she thinks that democracy can be introduced in Venezuela? Clearly, the agenda of President Trump is not about liberating Venezuela or bringing in democracy, so how do our Government see that happening? Repression and banditry are continuing on the streets of...

The Prime Minister has an excellent relationship with President Trump, and sometimes that involves challenge and sometimes it does not; that is how relationships work.

On the transition to democracy, the frustrating thing is that Venezuela has the capacity, mechanisms and structures to hold a ballot in a way that is...

The Prime Minister has an excellent relationship with President Trump, and sometimes that involves challenge and sometimes it does not; that is how relationships work.

On the transition to democracy, the frustrating thing is that Venezuela has the capacity, mechanisms and structures to hold a ballot in a way that is...

My Lords, we well understand the difficulties of criticising our close ally, President Trump. However, is there not a real danger that many will now see this as an acquiescence to the rather crude reassertion of the Monroe doctrine of the United States? Is there not a danger also that...

My Lords, we well understand the difficulties of criticising our close ally, President Trump. However, is there not a real danger that many will now see this as an acquiescence to the rather crude reassertion of the Monroe doctrine of the United States? Is there not a danger also that...

I do not think that is right. I do not have any difficulty in criticising President Putin for his illegal act of launching a full invasion of Ukraine, stealing children from Ukraine, bombing civilians, and destroying infrastructure and energy in the depths of winter. I have no issue complaining about...

I do not think that is right. I do not have any difficulty in criticising President Putin for his illegal act of launching a full invasion of Ukraine, stealing children from Ukraine, bombing civilians, and destroying infrastructure and energy in the depths of winter. I have no issue complaining about...

My Lords, will the Minister accept the commendation of a quotation from a previous Secretary General of the United Nations in a different context, where he observed that that military operation was not in accordance with the provisions of the UN charter?

I have two questions for the Minister. First, Vice-President...

My Lords, will the Minister accept the commendation of a quotation from a previous Secretary General of the United Nations in a different context, where he observed that that military operation was not in accordance with the provisions of the UN charter?

I have two questions for the Minister. First, Vice-President...

Certainly, any elections that are to be held must be free and fair and not any kind of repeat of what we saw the year before last. I take what the noble Lord says about the circumstances of the election of the now President Delcy Rodríguez, but I feel that...

Certainly, any elections that are to be held must be free and fair and not any kind of repeat of what we saw the year before last. I take what the noble Lord says about the circumstances of the election of the now President Delcy Rodríguez, but I feel that...

My Lords, I wish to follow up on the previous question, because it seems to me that it is very good news to know that we are in touch with the opposition parties. There has always been a problem in Venezuela about uniting the opposition parties and that is why...

My Lords, I wish to follow up on the previous question, because it seems to me that it is very good news to know that we are in touch with the opposition parties. There has always been a problem in Venezuela about uniting the opposition parties and that is why...

I think I am right in saying, from the last time I spoke to our chargé in Caracas, that he has had contact with Delcy Rodríguez previously. I am not aware whether this contact has been re-established since the events of the weekend. It is only Tuesday, so it is...

I think I am right in saying, from the last time I spoke to our chargé in Caracas, that he has had contact with Delcy Rodríguez previously. I am not aware whether this contact has been re-established since the events of the weekend. It is only Tuesday, so it is...

My Lords, speaking about the international implications of this, I think that Venezuela is not the only nation that is badly governed and managed, and this sends a signal from His Majesty’s Government, a permanent member of the UN Security Council. If we soft glove our close ally America and...

My Lords, speaking about the international implications of this, I think that Venezuela is not the only nation that is badly governed and managed, and this sends a signal from His Majesty’s Government, a permanent member of the UN Security Council. If we soft glove our close ally America and...

I know what the noble Lord is getting at. As far as parallels go, the UK is judged on the UK’s actions, and I do not think that this makes any difference at all to our ability to make the case for international law to partners—he mentioned Africa—and certainly it...

I know what the noble Lord is getting at. As far as parallels go, the UK is judged on the UK’s actions, and I do not think that this makes any difference at all to our ability to make the case for international law to partners—he mentioned Africa—and certainly it...