BBC Venezuela latest: Trump says US is going to ‘run’ Venezuela after capturing President Maduro

Trump: ‘We’re going to run the country’
The US president has claimed at the press conference now under way in Florida that the United States is going to run Venezuela for the time being, although it’s unclear how that would be done.

“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said. He has given no details.

He just called Maduro a dictator and a drug kingpin.

The UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer has backed a transition of power in Venezuela.

He insisted his Labour administration will “shed no tears” over the end of Nicolas Maduro’s regime and said Britain would discuss the “evolving situation” with American counterparts over the coming days.

Starmer said in a statement: “The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela.

“We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.

“I reiterated my support for international law this morning.

“The UK Government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”

Starmer earlier refused to be drawn on whether the US military action broke international law, saying he wanted to talk to president Donald Trump, with whom he had not spoken on Saturday morning, and allies to “establish the facts”.

Around 500 UK nationals are in Venezuela and work is ongoing to “safeguard” them, the prime minister said, while the UK’s Foreign Office advised against all travel to the country.

“As you know, I always say and believe we should all uphold international law, but I think at this stage, fast-moving situation, let’s establish the facts and take it from there,” Starmer told broadcasters.

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