Venezuela attack could embolden China and Russia, says Emily Thornberry

Thornberry, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, said she feared the norms of international law could break down. Photograph: Thomas Krych/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

The lack of western condemnation of the US military intervention in Venezuela could embolden China and Russia to take similar action against other countries, a senior Labour MP has warned.

Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, said that without a coherent and strong response to Donald Trump’s move at the weekend to remove the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and bring him to the US, the norms of international law could break down.