The Australian government says it is waiting for the US to \u201cset out the facts\u201d on the operation to capture the Venezuelan president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, before passing judgment.<\/p>\n
The Labor ministers Jim Chalmers and Tim Ayres on Monday stressed the importance of international law after the US military intervention.<\/p>\n
But when asked whether the extraordinary operation ordered by President Donald Trump<\/a> to extract Maduro and his wife, and take them to the US to face charges of involvement in narco-terrorism<\/a>, breached the United Nations charter, Ayres said the Albanese government was focused on \u201cestablishing the facts here and gathering evidence about what has occurred\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for the United States to make out the argument here and to set out the facts,\u201d Ayres, the industry minister, said on Radio National. \u201cThis is very early in this series of events, of course, and we are, as a government, working carefully to establish the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n Chalmers, the federal treasurer, went further in a press conference, saying Australia would be monitoring the situation closely.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are supporters of international law, and it\u2019s for the Americans to make clear the legal basis of the steps taken over the weekend,\u201d Chalmers said.<\/p>\n The Nationals leader, David Littleproud<\/a>, said any intervention into Venezuela must be \u201cmore than about oil or drugs\u201d, and warned against a prolonged military operation like the Iraq war.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n Most Australian politicians have so far been unwilling to pass judgment on the legality of Trump\u2019s incursion into Caracas. Chalmers said the situation was \u201cfast-moving\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur position is to encourage the relevant parties now to engage in dialogue and diplomacy and to ensure that there\u2019s not an escalation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said Maduro\u2019s removal was a good thing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Coalition\u2019s position has always been for a transition to democracy in Venezuela. Dictators and despots should always face justice,\u201d she told a press conference.<\/p>\n