🔗 Share this article

Senior leaders from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest military operations in recent US history: the seizure of a current national leader from his home city.

Details of the Raid Disclosed to Lawmakers

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and transported him to a New York City jail cell.

This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that was centered on 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.”

Political Divide Emerges in Washington

Beyond the oil, the operation has split Washington along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action.

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

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

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

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

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed legislative authorization. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall public opinion echoes 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 the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what limits are in place.”

Uncertain Future and International Condemnation

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an indeterminate time.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”

Global criticism has been rapid. Numerous nations have denounced 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.

Broader Strategic Focus

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

“China and Russia are operating off the coast Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a very keen interest in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance.

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