A former British Defence Minister has delivered a stark warning to Donald Trump after the US President launched air strikes on Venezuela's capital this morning.
Caracas was subject to American black hawk helicopters and Chinooks in the early hours before Mr Trump announced Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.
Joining Charlie Peters and Sophie Reaper on Saturday Morning Live, ex-Tory Minister Tobias Ellwood gave his verdict on what the "daring operation" means for America.
"From an operational perspective, this was daring indeed and successful from what we understand," he told GB News.
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"Quite an incredible start to 2026. It was a heavily orchestrated air attack across Caracas."
Commenting on the "astonishing developments from a simmering situation", Mr Ellwood, who spent around two years as a junior defence minister, said the world is awaiting reaction from the Venezuelan people, the international community and the US.
However, Mr Ellwood indicated all three reactions "may work against Trump".
He told the People's Channel: "Bombing another country's capital, kidnapping its leader, can rally the nation to support that leader, even if he's as unpopular as Maduro.
The world is awaiting reaction from the Venezuelan people, the international community and the US - all of which 'may work against Trump'
|GETTY/GB NEWS
"The US will be criticised for deploying its superior military power, a return to gunboat diplomacy, if you like, a proof of double standards China and Russia, I'm sure, will argue.
"One rule for for one another for the United States, reinforcing anti-US narratives about its imperial behavior.
"Does the military superiority now substitute for legitimacy? Is this where America is now going?
"And lastly, at home, his Maga base, very much anti-interventionism, very much nationalists supported Trump because he promised to end foreign interventions, not start them."
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The Venezuelan Government declared a state of emergency
|REUTERS
Looking towards America's next steps, Mr Ellwood continued: "Where this goes next, it opens up a Pandora's box of problems.
"It's breached international laws right across the board. I'm sure there'll be an emergency UN Security Council meeting with Russia and China saying, is this what America now does?
"And then big questions for allies too, including Britain. Because much as we support America's push against the drug trade push against Venezuela, promoting its use of illegal oil against sanctions, can we support America at this moment in time?
"There'll be some frantic discussions going on behind the scenes between international capital cities as we speak right now."
Since the "large-scale strikes", the US President lauded the American action as a "brilliant operation".
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.
"This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago."
Previously, the Republican President described the activity as a "brilliant operation", speaking with The New York Times.
Videos and photos of the mission captured plumes of smoke billowing across the landscape while the Government declared a state of emergency.
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