STORY
The UK has called for a “safe and peaceful transition” to a legitimate government in Venezuela, telling the UN Security Council that Venezuelans “have suffered for years” under Nicolás Maduro’s rule and deserve a government that reflects their vote at the ballot box.
Speaking in New York, Ambassador James Kariuki said Maduro’s actions had fuelled poverty, violent repression and failing basic services, while also driving a displacement crisis across the region. He repeated the UK’s longstanding position that Maduro’s claim to power was fraudulent and pointed to the fact that Venezuela’s National Electoral Council has still not published full results from the July 2024 presidential election, alongside reports citing irregularities and a lack of transparency.
The remarks came as the Security Council met at what the UK described as a “pivotal moment” for Venezuela’s future, amid heightened international scrutiny of events in the country and wider debate over how external powers are responding to the crisis.