{"id":9384,"date":"2026-01-05T02:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T02:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9384"},"modified":"2026-01-05T02:46:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T02:46:02","slug":"labor-wants-us-to-set-out-the-facts-before-passing-judgment-on-trumps-capture-of-maduro-australian-foreign-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9384","title":{"rendered":"Labor wants US to \u2018set out the facts\u2019 before passing judgment on Trump\u2019s capture of Maduro | Australian foreign policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Australian government says it is waiting for the United States to \u201cset out the facts\u201d on the operation to capture the Venezuelan president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n

The Labor minister Tim Ayres on Monday stressed the importance of international law after the US military intervention.<\/p>\n

But when asked whether the extraordinary operation ordered by President Donald Trump <\/a>to extract Maduro and his wife, and take them to the US to face charges of involvement in narco-terrorism<\/a>, breached the United Nations charter, Ayres said the Albanese government was focused on \u201cestablishing the facts here and gathering evidence about what has occurred\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for the United States to make out the argument here and to set out the facts,\u201d Ayres, the industry minister, said on Radio National. \u201cThis is very early in this series of events, of course, and we are, as a government, working carefully to establish the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nationals leader, David Littleproud<\/a>, said any intervention into Venezuela must be \u201cmore than about oil or drugs\u201d, and warned against a prolonged military operation like the Iraq war.<\/p>\n

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Most Australian politicians have so far been unwilling to pass judgment on the legality \u2013 or otherwise \u2013 of Trump\u2019s incursion into Caracas.<\/p>\n

On Sunday the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said<\/a> Australia had long held concerns about the human rights and democratic situation in Venezuela, and Littleproud on Monday branded Maduro an \u201cillegitimate, brutal dictator\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ayres said: \u201cWe have made it clear, of course, that following international law is absolutely important and we are taking steps, as you would expect at a consular level, to ensure that the safety of Australians who are in Venezuela at the moment is being looked after,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very early in this series of events, and a series of announcements have been made and we will continue to watch this closely and carefully in the Australian national interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

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On ABC TV, Ayres added: \u201cIt\u2019s certainly the case that Australia supports the application of international law and compliance with international law. It\u2019s for the United States to make out these arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Littleproud welcomed the ouster of Maduro, whose brutal rule over Venezuela included allegations of stealing elections and defying democratic results<\/a>, and violent suppression of protests or opposition. But the Nationals leader said it was \u201cimportant that the sovereignty of Venezuela is respected\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat, I think, is where the world is looking, waiting with bated breath around what the next move is of the Trump administration,\u201d he told Sunrise. \u201cI don\u2019t think the Trump administration wants to repeat Iraq.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis should be more than about oil or drugs. This should be about returning the country of Venezuela back to its people. And I think that\u2019s the clear pathway that the Trump administration will need to be able to articulate.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think there\u2019s been universal applause for Maduro to be gone. But I think it\u2019s important that we see that the country\u2019s return to Venezuelan people as soon as possible, in the most orderly way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Littleproud\u2019s colleague, the shadow trade minister Kevin Hogan, also raised concern about how Venezuela will now be run.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are there are now questions, obviously, that has to be answered,\u201d he told Radio National. \u201cWhat happens now in the immediate future of Venezuela?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Greens senator David Shoebridge on Sunday raised concern about the Trump administration\u2019s intervention, claiming that the forced removal of Maduro was a gross breach of international law.<\/p>\n

\u201cLawlessness without consequences helps dictators, tyrants and aggressors,\u201d he said. \u201cIt places the world on a very dangerous footing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis US war is not about self-defence, like so many before it, this is a war about resources, oil and dominance.\u201d<\/p>\n