BRITISH sailors on US warships are braced for war with Venezuela – but they have orders not to take part.
The highly trained sailors are serving as exchange officers on a US carrier strike group.
British sailors have been posted onboard the USS Gerald R FordCredit: AFP
Trump has threatened military strike to depose Venezuelan leader Nicolas MaduroCredit: Reuters
Defence Editor Jerome Starkey onboard the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in the Bay of NaplesCredit: © Jerome Starkey 2025
They have been dragged into Donald Trump’s “” as they are posted onboard the USS Gerald R Ford, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and its 12-vessel escort of frigates, destroyers and support ships.
ordered the strike group – the most powerful in the – to the coast of Venezuela after threatening military to depose its leader Nicolas Maduro.
US officials have accused Maduro of being the head of drugs cartel which they want to .
The Sun understands at least three British officers are serving as “embeds” in the Gerald R Ford carrier strike group.
They include Lieutenant Commander Owen Long, from Boston, Lincs, who is the navigator on board the USS Winston S Churchill, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
The vessel is normally armed with devastating Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles – like the ones used to blitz Iran.
The Defence Secretary was asked if British sailors would take part in threatened US strikes.
Speaking onboard HMS Prince of , a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, he said: “We will make sure as we always do that our British military are consistent with international humanitarian law.”
Foreign Secretary stopped short of endorsing US strikes, but was sympathetic to Trump’s approach.
She said: “There are real issues around the stability in Venezuela and also support for democracy in Venezuela.
“There are also issues right across the area around the scale of the criminal drug gang networks and some of the serious threats we’ve seen in terms of criminal threats as well as issues around state stability.
“So we will continue to work with international partners, continue to discuss these issues with the US, but continue to maintain all those international discussions as well.”
A Navy source claimed the British sailors had already been given orders not to take part in attacks on Venezuela.
In the event that President Trump ordered strikes, the Brits would step back from their posts.
They said: “The Navy gives them guidance over their role, tells them what they can and cannot do.”
Referring to Lt Cmdr Long’s role as ship’s navigator, the source said: “The navigator doesn’t steer the ship 24/7.
The sailors have been dragged into Donald Trump’s “gun boat diplomacy”Credit: Reuters
The U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, including the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS Winston S. Churchill sail towards the Caribbean SeaCredit: Reuters
“The navigator ensures the ship is safe, but during operations it is not always the navigator steering.
They added: “Anyone onboard in any kind of kinetic role would not be involved.”
Yvette Cooper denied reports over fears the US strikes are illegal.
US forces have blitzed at least 21 alleged “narco boats” and killed at least 83 people off the coast of Venezuela, with footage of the latest successful strike being released by the US Southern Command on X .
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the launch of Operation Southern Spear, operation is a new mission that will target narco-terror networks across Latin America.
Maduro has denied all claims made against himCredit: Getty
Though Hegseth gave no details of what the operation would entail, US officials say Southern Spear will aim to dismantle the cartel-militia networks across Venezuela.
It is the clearest signal yet that the US forces are now openly preparing for a military confrontation against Venezuela.
Strikes could target everything from army bases to drug labs, drug trafficking installations, and Maduro’s fierce guerrilla camps.
Despite fears the strikes are illegal, Cooper said the two countries continued to share intel, suggesting reports to the contrary were fake news.
Maduro has denied the accusations, and counter accused Washington of trying to orchestrate a regime change campaign to topple him.
On Friday Trump said he had “sort of made up my mind” on Venezuela, suggesting that a decision could come soon amid fears the US is ready to wage a war in the Caribbean, however on Sunday, said the US may hold last-minute crunch talks with Maduro to avoid an all-out war.
