My Lords, the FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to Venezuela. The safety of British nationals abroad is the FCDO’s overriding concern when determining travel advice, which remains under regular review to ensure that it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals. The FCDO has been clear that consular support available to British nationals in Venezuela is limited, but we continue to support a peaceful, negotiated transition in Venezuela.
In thanking the Minister for her reply, may I press a little on the wider region and ask whether this advice and possible support will be given to British nationals in the overseas territories in the Caribbean, for example? Further, does the FCDO have any plans to close our embassy in Venezuela, as I understand other European countries have already done?
Our obligations to those in overseas territories are very different, and they are clearly prioritised in circumstances when disasters kick in. We have very limited diplomatic relations with Venezuela; at the moment, we have a chargé in Caracas. At this stage, we do not plan to withdraw that, but we are keeping a very close eye. I have spoken to the team there on many occasions, and what they are doing is still of value and their safety is assured. As long as this is the case, I do not see us withdrawing it immediately. Clearly, given the changing situation, we are keeping it under review.
My Lords, it is very clear that our Government are nervous about directly criticising Trump. It is undeniable that the extrajudicial killings he has ordered in blowing up small boats off the coast of Venezuela are a grave violation of international law. Does the Minister agree that the notorious double strike that we heard so much about in September, which saw two people murdered while clinging to a boat, should be and must be thoroughly condemned?
I am not here to second-guess legal advice or the situation in regard to any specific incident in the Caribbean. What the US does with regard to Venezuela and its position on its activities in the Caribbean are clearly a matter for the US.
My Lords, can the Minister confirm that the 51 Venezuelans who are on our sanctions list for their role in undermining democracy and human rights remain sanctioned? Will she say whether we are considering imposing sanctions on those who have been involved in the cartels in the illegal smuggling of drugs—many of them lethal—not just into the United States but into Europe and this country too?
The noble Lord knows that I am not going to talk about sanctions or whether we are about to lift or impose them, but it is absolutely true that Europe is one of the biggest markets for narcotics coming out of Latin America and central America specifically. The demand for narcotics in this country is causing misery, despair and the death of children, among others, in that part of the world.
My Lords, even though the Maduro Government there may be authoritarian and corrupt, the extrajudicial killings are not justified. Are we confident that British intelligence has not been used to facilitate those? How is military action against Venezuela consistent with forcing a peace settlement in Ukraine? If there is military action, what steps can be taken to protect all citizens there, including the 7,000 from the UK?
I can tell the noble Lord that the UK is not involved in any way in the activities of the US in this part of the Caribbean. I am struggling to see the parallel between the situations in Venezuela and Ukraine. There are very difficult problems to address in both places. Our position on Ukraine is clear. We do not recognise the legitimacy of Maduro’s Government because of the way in which the election was conducted and the failure of the regime to publish reliable results.
My Lords, as the Minister has said, the situation in Venezuela is very concerning. Given our special relationship with our US allies, what conversations are ongoing with the US Government to ensure that our Government have the up-to-date information needed to safeguard British citizens in the country? I noticed that travel advice for Venezuela was last updated on 23 November. Will this be further updated?
It will be updated if it needs to be changed; just because it has not changed does not mean it is not reviewed. Unfortunately, Venezuela is now in an “all but essential” category, and certain border areas are in a red category. That being said, our citizens do not always adhere to the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. We estimate that there are around 500 British nationals in Venezuela. They are mostly going to be dual nationals or people who have lived there for a very long time and who understand the limited nature of the consular assistance that we are able to provide.
My Lords, given the limited numbers in our embassy, are we confident that we have means of communicating with those British nationals? What contingency arrangements have been or are proposed to be made with neighbouring countries such as Trinidad and Tobago?
My noble friend is right that there is a limited team currently in Caracas, but it is incredibly well led and very effective. It is also served by the country-based staff, who do a tremendous job. Communications are a challenge, and knowing exactly where British nationals are—they are under no obligation to let us know—can be difficult. Most of the British nationals that we are aware of are people who are well used to living in Venezuela and are well supported. They rely on their own local networks, but our team is there to provide support, limited though it may be, should that be needed.
My Lords, bearing in mind that Venezuela has an unwarranted territorial claim on neighbouring Guyana, can the Minister update us on the advice the Government would have for that particular Commonwealth country?