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The rules-based system is “disintegrating before our eyes”, senior minister Wes Streeting has warned in reaction to Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela and threats over Greenland.
Mr Streeting, the health secretary and a possible Labour leadership contender, defended Sir Keir Starmer‘s stance since the US carried out strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on 3 January.
Following the military operation, Mr Trump has also ramped up threats to take over Greenland.
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In an interview with Sky’s US partner NBC News on Monday, Mr Trump said he is “very serious” about annexing Greenland and said the US and Europe need it “for national security”.
Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have been reluctant to criticise the US over Venezuela, while other countries are saying he broke international law – but the prime minister has been clear that Greenland is Denmark’s.
In the UK government’s strongest stance over the past few days, Mr Streeting told Mornings with Ridge and Frost: “The prime minister chooses what to say, how to say it, and when to say it very carefully.
“And what he always has at the forefront of his mind is how does he make sure that he uses his influence and leverage in a way that first and foremost works to our national interest, whether economic interests or security interests?
“And then for the collective interest as well of our global security in the rules-based system – which we’ve seen disintegrating before our eyes.”
He said the government’s stance “is just the nature of diplomacy” and the UK has a “different relationship”…
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