Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has suggested the United States violated international law by conducting military strikes in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Swinney voiced his concerns on Monday at an SNP campaign event in Glasgow, two days after the operation that has drawn international condemnation.
The US special forces operation began in the early hours of Saturday morning, striking military sites across Venezuela. US forces captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and flew them to New York, where they appeared in court charged with narco-terrorism.
The strikes killed as many as 80 people, including civilians, according to the New York Times. Cuba confirmed 32 of its armed forces members, believed to be Maduro's bodyguards, died during the operation.
Swinney Questions Legality
Speaking to SNP members, Swinney said: "Having listened carefully to what has been said by the United States administration in recent days, I cannot see how international law has been respected here." He acknowledged Maduro's regime was "illegitimate and authoritarian" but insisted all nations must abide by the international rules-based system. The First Minister urged the international community to "ensure that de-escalation, diplomacy and democracy are the foundations of what follows".
International Response Divided
All but one EU nation called for international law to be respected over Venezuela on Sunday night, joined by Canada and Norway. Hungary was the sole EU exception. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the US actions, with a UN statement expressing deep concern that "the rules of international law have not been respected". China demanded the US release Maduro.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took a more cautious position. He told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on Monday: "It's for the US to set out its justifications for the actions that it's taken." Starmer described himself as a "lifelong advocate of international law" but stopped short of directly condemning the operation, saying: "But it is a complicated situation."
Awkward Timing for Swinney
The statement creates an awkward diplomatic moment for Swinney, who has cultivated a relationship with US President Donald Trump over the past 12 months. The First Minister met Trump numerous times to lobby against US tariffs on Scotch whisky exports, which he said were causing "really difficult times" for the industry. Defending his engagement with Trump, Swinney told journalists: "All I've done is try to pursue the interests of Scotland."
Trump's Plans for Venezuela
Trump announced on Saturday the US would "run" Venezuela until "such a time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". He said major US oil companies would invest billions to repair Venezuela's oil infrastructure and "start making money for the country".
Maduro's Human Rights Record
Amnesty International documented extensive human rights abuses by Maduro's government following the July 2024 presidential election. The organization stated: "Protests following the announcement of the results of the presidential election in July were violently repressed with excessive use of force and possible extrajudicial executions. Thousands of arbitrary arrests were carried out against political opponents, human rights defenders and journalists; hundreds of children were among those detained. Detainees including women and children were allegedly tortured."
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
