🔗 Share this article

Top officials from the administration went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest armed interventions in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his home city.

Details of the Raid 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 swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a New York City jail cell.

This session marked the initial instance the entire chamber heard details of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, creating opportunities for companies to operate in the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “one of transition.”

“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 Emerges in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. Republicans have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and establish a troubling new norm for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.”

“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil under threat of force for an undefined period as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.

This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion echoes the political division on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what is happening?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to how long this is going to last. We need answers on military presence, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and International Condemnation

The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” 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 capacity 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 called for Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. justified the move as targeted law enforcement.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing national security concerns.

“China and Russia are operating off the coast 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, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance.

“Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”