Picture courtesy of BBC

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has reprimanded the US for allegedly ignoring international law following a military operation in Venezuela resulting in Nicolás Maduro's arrest. The US action, initiated by President Donald Trump, has sparked global outrage, with Cooper emphasising international obligations towards MPs.

Background discussions in Parliament showcased differing opinions on the UK's response. While Cooper highlighted legal concerns during a conversation with US Secretary Marco Rubio, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has remained focused on Maduro's regime's harshness. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch voiced dismay over the prime minister's silence, asserting the importance of supporting the US, while other politicians demanded a firmer government stance against Trump's decision.

Security analysts warn the US intervention may undermine global stability, potentially encouraging leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin to defy international accords. Labour's Emily Thornberry criticised the silence, urging a clearer position on the legal breach. Meanwhile, Maduro, now in New York under arrest, labelled the operation a "kidnapping," his plight stirring concerns about international law and the precedent set by Trump's actions.

Government officials continue to urge a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela, yet debates remain heated. Cooper reiterated her legal concerns with Rubio, focusing on respecting Venezuelans' democratic rights. Badenoch, however, supported the necessity of the US action, citing national interests such as combatting drug smuggling, reported the BBC.

Looking forward, discussions within the United Nations Security Council could shape ongoing diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, domestic political tensions persist, with Labour and other opposition parties demanding a government condemnation of Trump. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticised the government's stance, calling inaction "ridiculous."

Key Takeaways:

• Cooper criticised the US for violating international law in Venezuela.

• The UK Parliament remains divided on whether to support or condemn the actions of the US.

• The situation could impact international relations and diplomatic strategies.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2026-01-06

 

 

I'd love to see this absolute clown "reprimand" Trump during a public face to face.

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I'd love to see this absolute clown "reprimand" Trump during a public face to face.

Jonny would love to see violence against a woman expressing an opinion.

Thanks for confirming what is obviously simmering under the surface of the bile you reserve for women who have the temerity to express an opinion.

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Jonny would love to see violence against a woman expressing an opinion.

Thanks for confirming what is obviously simmering under the surface of the bile you reserve for women who have the temerity to express an opinion.

Chomper would love to use a lighthearted meme to imply the violent misogyny of another poster.

Ironic, coming from someone who supports men beating up women in the boxing ring. Not memes of it happening, but it ACTUALLY happening.

Excuse me if I don't take your attempted slur too seriously. 😄

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Chomper would love to use a lighthearted meme to imply the violent misogyny of another poster.

Ironic, coming from someone who supports men beating up women in the boxing ring. Not memes of it happening, but it ACTUALLY happening.

Excuse me if I don't take your attempted slur too seriously. 😄

You’ve made your desire to see violence against a woman graphically clear Jonny.

Nobody forced you to post your love to see a woman slapped.

Trying to deflect with baseless accusations of what I support isn’t getting you off this hook you put yourself on.

2 minutes ago, GarryP said:

He suggested that a foreign minister be slapped. FFS And that image is of Batman slapping Robin, who is a man.

I got the components of the post thank you.

And I also got its meaning.

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

All violence against women is wrong - all of it.

Shouldn't that be "All violence is wrong"

Or is hitting men and children and animals OK in your mind?

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Shouldn't that be "All violence is wrong"

Or is hitting men and children and animals OK in your mind?

That too but that’s doesn’t excuse Jonny’s love of seeing a woman slapped either, or your acceptance of it.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That too but that’s doesn’t excuse Jonny’s love of seeing a woman slapped either, or your acceptance of it.

That was the Boy Wonder.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

I'd love to see this absolute clown "reprimand" Trump during a public face to face.

Yes that would be sweet...

31 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Your faux outrage about Batman slapping Robin isn't fooling anyone. 😄

How do you know Trump is Batman and Cooper is Robin in that light hearted meme? Maybe it's Cooper slapping Trump? You seem somewhat presumptuous. Wishful thinking? Belief formation? Perhaps it was a case of parapraxis given your position on Imane Kelif beating up the women?

Or have you now changed your position on biological men who pretend to be women boxing against real women?

Have you changed your position on men in women's prisons?

Are you prepared to admit the issues with the treatment of women in the Muslim community.

Let us know your new position, if you have the minerals.

Yet more deflection Jonny.

The meaning of your freely expressed love to see a woman slapped is clear.

Rather than manning up about it, you try to deflect.

Though of course manning up is a bit of an ask when, by your own admission, you get off on violence against a woman.

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yet more deflection Jonny.

The meaning of your freely expressed love to see a woman slapped is clear.

Rather than manning up about it, you try to deflect.

Though of course manning up is a bit of an ask when, by your own admission, you get off on violence against a woman.

Yeah, didn't think you'd answer. Bit awkward to admit to that level of hypocrisy innit. 😄

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I got the components of the post thank you.

And I also got its meaning.

Well obviously you didn't!

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No, because you are baselessly inventing my views on those matters as a distraction.

You've shared them before and now you are refusing to confirm them when asked.

Mealy mouthed cowardice to hide your hypocrisy.

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

You've shared them before and now you are refusing to confirm them when asked.

Mealy mouthed cowardice to hide your hypocrisy.

Being accused of cowardice by a guy who gets off on watching a woman being slapped.

It’s as ridiculous as your baseless claims.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s no shortage of misogyny Jonny, you delivered a fresh supply to the thread this morning.

Those pearls must be awfully warm Chomps.

You've been clutching them for 3 hours over a Batman & Robin meme. 😄

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

On 1/6/2026 at 6:30 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of BBC

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has reprimanded the US for allegedly ignoring international law following a military operation in Venezuela resulting in Nicolás Maduro's arrest. The US action, initiated by President Donald Trump, has sparked global outrage, with Cooper emphasising international obligations towards MPs.

Background discussions in Parliament showcased differing opinions on the UK's response. While Cooper highlighted legal concerns during a conversation with US Secretary Marco Rubio, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has remained focused on Maduro's regime's harshness. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch voiced dismay over the prime minister's silence, asserting the importance of supporting the US, while other politicians demanded a firmer government stance against Trump's decision.

Security analysts warn the US intervention may undermine global stability, potentially encouraging leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin to defy international accords. Labour's Emily Thornberry criticised the silence, urging a clearer position on the legal breach. Meanwhile, Maduro, now in New York under arrest, labelled the operation a "kidnapping," his plight stirring concerns about international law and the precedent set by Trump's actions.

Government officials continue to urge a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela, yet debates remain heated. Cooper reiterated her legal concerns with Rubio, focusing on respecting Venezuelans' democratic rights. Badenoch, however, supported the necessity of the US action, citing national interests such as combatting drug smuggling, reported the BBC.

Looking forward, discussions within the United Nations Security Council could shape ongoing diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, domestic political tensions persist, with Labour and other opposition parties demanding a government condemnation of Trump. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticised the government's stance, calling inaction "ridiculous."

Key Takeaways:

• Cooper criticised the US for violating international law in Venezuela.

• The UK Parliament remains divided on whether to support or condemn the actions of the US.

• The situation could impact international relations and diplomatic strategies.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2026-01-06

 

 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrVlMgUV_Sbvel2Yjt-ppu64HFPomf11ilwA&s

is that her natural hair color ? or just another dyed shade of blonde ?

US President Donald Trump may have done the global community of nations a favour with his military invasion of Venezuela.

He has placed a firecracker under the much-vaunted concept of a “rules-based world order”. It is now time for world leaders to pause and reflect. Does the concept actually work or is it time to press the reset button?

Political analyst Kio Amachree makes the point that for 80 years since World War 2 the international political system “rested on a fragile but essential idea: borders are not changed by force, leaders are not kidnapped and power is constrained by law”.

“(But) When Trump treats international law as an inconvenience rather than a guardrail, the message is clear to the rest of the world: act first, justify later and dare anyone to stop you.” And “Dare anyone” is clearly what Trump is up to.

At his press conference after the kidnap of President Nicolas Maduro, he nonchalantly announced that his administration would “run” Venezuela. Picture that.

A head of state decides one morning that he will violate the territorial integrity of another sovereign State, remove his counterpart by force and “run” the government of an independent nation. That’s Trump for you. He is like the drunk guy with the biggest pistol in the bar.

In terms of the US War Powers Act of 1973, a sitting president may not commit the country to an armed conflict without the “statutory authorisation” of Congress. On Trump’s orders, the US military has been bombing so-called “narco terrorists” in international waters in what some US lawmakers say are unlawful extrajudicial killings.

Congressman Adam Smith of the armed services committee expressed his fears that there may be more to come after the Venezuela invasion as Trump and his sycophants implement their strategy to dominate the western hemisphere, the so-called Monroe Doctrine.

American author Chris Hedges writes: “Violence does not generate peace. It generates violence.

“If there is one lesson we should have learned in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya, it is that regime change spawns Frankensteinian monsters of our own making.”

Respected academic Professor Jeffrey Sachs says said Trump, with his unlawful actions, has positioned the US as a “global thug”. So who is going to stop the global thug?

Russia is knee-deep in its invasion of Ukraine.

China is champing at the bit itching to take Taiwan by force.

India is just about one incident away from formally declaring war against eternal enemy Pakistan.

What about the multi-lateral structures? Do they hold any moral authority to admonish Trump over Venezuela? The bad news is that almighty Trump is thumbing his nose at all of them.

https://share.google/shFjZIx5Ciu3W7MGy

Oh dear, after reading the first page of replies I saw no discussion on the topic i.e. the kidnapping of Maduro.

It became a shootout between Chomps and 2 posters, one of whom is a white supremacist and one who expressed sympathy for a child sex trafficker being sentenced to 20 years.

I’m outa here.

Multiple off topic troll posts removed

On 1/7/2026 at 2:34 PM, spidermike007 said:

US President Donald Trump may have done the global community of nations a favour with his military invasion of Venezuela.

He has placed a firecracker under the much-vaunted concept of a “rules-based world order”. It is now time for world leaders to pause and reflect. Does the concept actually work or is it time to press the reset button?

Political analyst Kio Amachree makes the point that for 80 years since World War 2 the international political system “rested on a fragile but essential idea: borders are not changed by force, leaders are not kidnapped and power is constrained by law”.

“(But) When Trump treats international law as an inconvenience rather than a guardrail, the message is clear to the rest of the world: act first, justify later and dare anyone to stop you.” And “Dare anyone” is clearly what Trump is up to.

At his press conference after the kidnap of President Nicolas Maduro, he nonchalantly announced that his administration would “run” Venezuela. Picture that.

A head of state decides one morning that he will violate the territorial integrity of another sovereign State, remove his counterpart by force and “run” the government of an independent nation. That’s Trump for you. He is like the drunk guy with the biggest pistol in the bar.

In terms of the US War Powers Act of 1973, a sitting president may not commit the country to an armed conflict without the “statutory authorisation” of Congress. On Trump’s orders, the US military has been bombing so-called “narco terrorists” in international waters in what some US lawmakers say are unlawful extrajudicial killings.

Congressman Adam Smith of the armed services committee expressed his fears that there may be more to come after the Venezuela invasion as Trump and his sycophants implement their strategy to dominate the western hemisphere, the so-called Monroe Doctrine.

American author Chris Hedges writes: “Violence does not generate peace. It generates violence.

“If there is one lesson we should have learned in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya, it is that regime change spawns Frankensteinian monsters of our own making.”

Respected academic Professor Jeffrey Sachs says said Trump, with his unlawful actions, has positioned the US as a “global thug”. So who is going to stop the global thug?

Russia is knee-deep in its invasion of Ukraine.

China is champing at the bit itching to take Taiwan by force.

India is just about one incident away from formally declaring war against eternal enemy Pakistan.

What about the multi-lateral structures? Do they hold any moral authority to admonish Trump over Venezuela? The bad news is that almighty Trump is thumbing his nose at all of them.

https://share.google/shFjZIx5Ciu3W7MGy

Great post although, unfortunately, fall upon deaf ears.