Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest armed interventions in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital.
Operation Particulars Revealed to Lawmakers
Key cabinet members, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a New York City jail cell.
This briefing marked the initial instance the full Senate heard details of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
A Plan Centered on Oil
Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, creating opportunities 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.”
Political Divide Emerges in Washington
Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and establish a troubling new norm for executive power.
“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 Legal Proceedings
In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried 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 stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “drug 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 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 comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.
This criticism reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public 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 mirrors the partisan split 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 military presence, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”
Unclear Path Ahead and International Condemnation
The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time.
“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capacity of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”
International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded 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 significant strategic stake in Greenland.”
The administration has maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating 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 action to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”
