UK Deputy Permanent Representative Archie Young told the UN Security Council on 23 December 2025 that Nicolás Maduro’s claim to power lacks legitimacy and that Venezuela’s electoral authority has still not released the full results of the 28 July 2024 presidential vote. The UK reiterated support for a peaceful, negotiated transition that respects the will of Venezuelan voters.
London’s intervention pointed to “significant irregularities and a lack of transparency” reported by observers. Independent assessments align with that characterisation: the Carter Center said it could not corroborate the official outcome because authorities failed to publish disaggregated results; a UN panel of electoral experts found the process lacked basic transparency; and the OAS said results announced by the CNE could not be recognised.
The UK has made the same argument consistently since the summer. In October, a UK statement to the Council described the July contest as neither free nor fair and noted that more than 800 Venezuelans remained arbitrarily detained amid reports of enforced disappearances targeting opposition figures, human-rights defenders and independent media.
The humanitarian consequences featured prominently. The UK cited extreme poverty and failing basic services, linking these to a displacement crisis affecting the wider region. UNHCR estimates nearly 7.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants globally as of May 2025, with most hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The UK also flagged organised crime and drug trafficking as cross-border threats that undermine stability. Ministers first underscored this line at the Council in October and carried it forward in December, saying the UK would work with partners in Latin America in accordance with the UN Charter.
On law and norms, the statement reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the UN Charter and called the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea the cornerstone of international law on ocean-related issues. This signals continued UK backing for rules-based approaches to maritime disputes and freedom of navigation, without naming specific cases.
For practitioners, the direction of UK policy remains steady rather than new. Sanctions designations imposed on 10 January 2025 against 15 Venezuelan officials-including senior judges, security and electoral figures-remain a key tool; UK entities should maintain enhanced screening and due diligence around Venezuelan public-sector counterparts and intermediaries.
International coordination remains central. G7 foreign ministers and the EU jointly denounced the lack of democratic legitimacy surrounding the January 2025 inauguration, urging respect for the July 2024 vote and an end to repression-positions that mirror the UK’s Council message this week.
Accountability processes also continue in parallel. The International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela has been allowed to proceed following a 2024 Appeals Chamber ruling, and remains active alongside diplomatic efforts highlighted by the UK.