In a stark intervention, a senior UK government minister has declared that the international rules-based system is "disintegrating before our eyes". The warning from Health Secretary Wes Streeting comes as a direct reaction to recent, unprecedented actions by the United States under President Donald Trump.
US Actions Prompt Unprecedented Criticism
The comments, made on Tuesday 6 January 2026, represent the strongest critique from within the UK government since a dramatic series of events unfolded. These began on 3 January, when US forces carried out strikes in Venezuela and captured the country's President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
In the days following that military operation, President Trump escalated tensions further by publicly ramping up threats to take over Greenland, the vast autonomous Danish territory. In an interview with NBC News on Monday, Trump stated he was "very serious" about annexing the island, citing national security needs for both the US and Europe.
A Delicate Diplomatic Balancing Act
Mr Streeting, a key figure in the Labour government and a potential future leadership contender, defended Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cautious public stance. While other nations have accused the US of breaking international law over Venezuela, Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have been more measured in their criticism.
Speaking on the Mornings with Ridge and Frost programme, Streeting explained the government's approach. "The prime minister chooses what to say, how to say it, and when to say it very carefully," he said. He emphasised that Sir Keir's primary focus is on leveraging the UK's unique relationship with the US to protect national economic and security interests, as well as the collective global interest.
"And then for the collective interest as well of our global security in the rules-based system - which we've seen disintegrating before our eyes," Streeting added, pinpointing the core of his concern.
International Law and Alliance Stability at Stake
The minister described the UK's nuanced position as "just the nature of diplomacy", noting Britain has a different relationship with Washington than countries that have issued stronger condemnations. However, he was clearer on the issue of Greenland, firmly aligning with the Prime Minister's view that the territory belongs to Denmark.
With Greenland being part of NATO, Streeting warned that Mr Trump's threats are dangerously destabilising. "This is not the time to destabilise NATO and to undermine our collective security," he stated.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed she had spoken to US counterpart Marco Rubio and "raised the importance of complying with international law", though she stopped short of stating the US had broken it. This careful diplomacy was questioned by Dame Emily Thornberry, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who argued the government should defend international law "publicly" to prevent the perception that such actions are acceptable.
Streeting also addressed his own past description of Trump as "an odious, sad little man", admitting the President and Sir Keir are not natural allies. Despite this, he praised the Prime Minister for building a working relationship with Trump to advance UK interests, a task he called "very successfully" accomplished.
