The UK has taken charge of the international response to the Venezuelan earthquake, deploying specialist rescue teams and military assets as the death toll climbs past 5,000. Whitehall sources confirm Number 10 authorised the operation within hours of the 7.2 magnitude tremor striking Caracas.
This is a political gamble. Starmer needs this to go well. A botched rescue effort could fuel accusations of overreach. But early signs are promising. The first RAF C-17 touched down at Simón Bolívar International Airport at 0600 local time, carrying 60 firefighters and medical personnel.
Chalk this up as a win for the Foreign Office. They've been pushing for a more assertive global role. The PM's phone call with President Maduro was tense but productive. Maduro, desperate for aid, agreed to let UK forces operate outside state control. A rare concession.
The backbenches are restless. Some Labour MPs worry about mission creep. 'We're not the world's police,' one told me. But the public mood is supportive. Polling shows 62% back the deployment. Starmer's approval rating has ticked up three points.
Cabinet sources say the real test comes in 48 hours. That's when the search and rescue phase ends. If UK teams pull survivors from the rubble, the narrative shifts to triumph. If not, expect calls for a Commons inquiry.
Downing Street is already spinning this as 'Global Britain in action.' The phrase makes some officials cringe. But it's sticking. The question now is whether the rescue mission can match the rhetoric.
The UN has praised the UK's coordination role. But privately, diplomats question whether Britain can sustain the effort. Resources are stretched. The Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth is being diverted from NATO exercises to provide offshore support.
Don't expect a quiet Easter recess. The Foreign Affairs Committee has demanded a statement from the Foreign Secretary in the next sitting. The opposition will probe for weaknesses. Every decision will be scrutinised.
For Starmer, this is a high-wire act. Success could redefine his premiership. Failure could be catastrophic. The tectonic plates of British politics are shifting. Just like the ground in Caracas.
