Starmer tells Trump to keep his hands off Greenland

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seen in handcuffs and shackles as he arrived in New York City to face U.S. drug-trafficking and weapons charges, following a dramatic operation that has sent shockwaves through the international community.

One of Washington’s key allies, the United Kingdom, cautiously welcomed the move. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Maduro as an “illegitimate” leader responsible for widespread suffering in Venezuela.

“The position of this government is that Venezuela needs a peaceful transition to democracy,” Starmer said. “That was our position before this weekend, and it remains our position.”

However, he stressed that international law must remain the guiding standard for global conduct. “International law is the benchmark against which we judge the actions of all governments,” Starmer said, adding that it was ultimately “for the United States to justify the action it has taken.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said following Maduro’s arrest that his attention was now turning to other countries in Latin America, including Colombia, Cuba and Mexico.

While those remarks prompted no immediate response from London, Trump’s comments regarding Greenland drew a swift rebuttal. The U.S. president described the territory as a matter of American national security — a claim firmly rejected by Starmer.

“The future of Greenland is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone,” the British prime minister said. “Denmark is a very close ally of the UK in Europe and NATO. Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must determine Greenland’s future — and nobody else.”