RECENT revelations of a “Venezuela Reconstruction Unit” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office show that once again Britain’s Conservative government is falling into line with US foreign policy and acting as Trump’s poodles on the world stage.

The unit’s stated aims are to “co-ordinate a British approach to international efforts to respond to the dire economic and humanitarian situation in Venezuela.” News in January 2020 that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido had been welcomed in London by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, along with representatives of the unit, suggested that whatever reconstruction they had in mind, it was not going to involve the elected government.

Juan Guaido shot to prominence with his failed attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government early in 2019. Despite his reputation being increasingly tainted by political failure, his association with drug traffickers, his team’s embezzlement of humanitarian funds and his rejection by many of his opposition colleagues at home, Britain’s government has doggedly stuck to its decision to follow the US drive for  “regime change” and recognise him as “interim president” of Venezuela.