🔗 Share this article

Senior leaders from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the seizure of a current national leader from his home city.

Details of the Raid Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the swift strike 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 initial instance the full Senate heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, finding access for companies to enter 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 split Washington along predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation 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 in power to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, flew them to a stateside base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing disbelieving, 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 at gunpoint for an unspecified time as a bargaining chip to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.

This pushback reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required legislative authorization. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion mirrors the partisan split 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 troop levels, 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 “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 capacity of our military... but there is no answer about what comes next.”

Global criticism has been rapid. 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. defended the action as a precise police action.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights 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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no plans to ease pressure.

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