🔗 Share this article

Senior leaders from the administration went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his home city.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Lawmakers

The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the top military officer informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a detention facility in New York.

This session marked the initial instance the entire chamber heard details of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “a transitional period.”

“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” one official stated. “We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.”

Partisan Split Erupts in Washington

Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Opposition party members warn of an unlawful military aggression that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and establish a troubling new norm for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court pleading not guilty to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil under threat of force for an unspecified time as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the political division on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to how long this is going to last. We need answers on troop levels, financial cost, and what limits are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.”

Global criticism has been swift. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. justified the move as a precise police action.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention toward Greenland, citing defense concerns.

“China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no plans to reduce its stance.

“Our military is prepared to continue this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to advance our interests, and that is on clear view.”