Peers pressed the Government to explain its stance on recent US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, repeatedly challenging Ministers over legality and intelligence sharing.
Lord Verdirame said few outside Washington accept the US claim of self-defence and asked what assessment the UK had made under international law. Lord Coaker replied that “the lawfulness of the strikes is a matter for the United States” and stressed the UK “was not involved”, adding that British activity in the region aligns with international law and UN Charter principles.
Questions then turned to reports that UK intelligence sharing with the US had been curtailed. Lord Callanan warned this could threaten the Five Eyes relationship. Coaker did not address specifics but insisted the UK “prioritises the security of this country” and reaffirmed the centrality of the US partnership.
Lord West noted that selective intelligence sharing has long been routine in joint counter-narcotics efforts and said caution is normal. Coaker agreed and highlighted that cooperation with Caribbean partners has prevented large volumes of narcotics reaching Europe and the US.
Several peers pressed again on legality. Lord Bruce raised the issue of extrajudicial killings. Lord Pannick argued the Minister was “being uncharacteristically coy” compared with how the UK criticises other states. Coaker repeated that legality is for the US to determine while maintaining that UK actions follow international law.
On Venezuela, Coaker confirmed the UK is the only Five Eyes state with an embassy in Caracas and described it as essential for maintaining communication. He restated the Government’s position that “Nicolás Maduro’s claim to power is fraudulent” and said a negotiated transition is the only legitimate outcome.
A bit of a narrow line to follow here but as we, unlike the current US Administration have a strong commitment to International Law and institutions like the ICC (at least publicly) and what with the Extraordinary Rendition controversy still nagging at the memory there is little choice but to withhold any obvious intelligence transfer on the affair. I’m sure questions will continue mind.
More American bullying yet Taco won’t stand up to Putin
Trump is a disgrace and totally unfit to be President. He is a threat to both America and Europe
The obsession with “international law” on one side and acknowledging the president that faked the election in Venezuela? or being proud of partnering with the Islamic brotherhood regime in Turkey that jail political rivals and occupies half of Cyprus? but as long as this is OK under “international law”
Because western power is based on the institutions of international law and for most of those are the laws of the sea and the most fundamental law of the sea is that you don’t randomly blow the crap out of civilian ships even if they are possibly breaking the law.
Make no mistake what the US is doing is casus belli pure and simple and if it had done it to vessels of a near peer it would be in a war.
Bunch of Lords wet Willie’s living in lalaland
For me what this really shows is that the US now has zero understanding of the importance international geopolitical opinions or soft power.. more and more the second and third world sees a nation that does not even pretend that the global order it helped create holds any sway over it..
Now this matters because China sees the international order as a system that supports US and wider western hegemony snd holds its ascendancy to power back and has tried at every point to undermine it…. Now the US has managed to completely undermine the law of the sea with might is right.. but guess who has the more numerous navy ? Yep China so if the law of the sea is weakened the nation that benefits most is China.. well done a grand example of taking a gun and shooting yourself in the foot… it’s not even like it’s a show of strength.
Venezuela has huge oil reserves only SA has more. So, the Empire does not want China or other enemies to own it. Venezuela must be subservient or else! It is a National Security issue. Drugs are a mere red herring.
Lord Verdirame. International human rights lawyer.
Frankly, the British public I suggest cares nothing for the rights of drug pedlars.