According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Tuesday January 6, 2026, Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party leader, on Tuesday defended the United States’ military operation that led to the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, stating that while legal and diplomatic questions remained, she believed the action was justified on moral grounds.
Her remarks followed international debate over the circumstances surrounding the US-led operation, which resulted in Maduro’s departure after years of political tension, sanctions, and allegations of human rights abuses against his administration.
The development has raised concerns in diplomatic circles about sovereignty, international law, and the precedent such an action may set.
Speaking during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Badenoch acknowledged that she did not have full clarity on the legal framework under which the operation was carried out.
She maintained, however, that her assessment was based on the nature of governance in Venezuela under Maduro and the reported conditions faced by citizens during his time in office.
Maduro had remained in power for years amid disputed elections, economic decline, and widespread criticism from Western governments and international organisations.
His administration consistently rejected claims of illegitimacy, while accusing foreign powers of interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
The United States has not released full operational details surrounding the raid, but officials have framed the action as part of a broader effort to address security, governance, and humanitarian concerns linked to Venezuela’s prolonged political crisis.
Badenoch’s comments place her among a small number of senior political figures in the United Kingdom to publicly support the outcome of the operation, even as discussions continue over its legality and long-term implications for international relations and regional stability.
She said: Where the legal certainty is not yet clear, morally, I do think it was the right thing to do,” she said, adding that her childhood in Nigeria under military dictatorships gave her insight into life under authoritarian rule. “I grew up under a military dictatorship, so I know what it’s like to have someone like Maduro in charge.”
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