Top officials from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital.
Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators
Key cabinet members, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a New York City jail cell.
This session marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars 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, 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 Erupts in Washington
Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. Republicans have rallied behind the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war 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 regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”
Sequence of Events and Court Case
In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces struck multiple targets across the country's north, apprehended Maduro and Flores, ferried 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.
Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease
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 undefined period as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s 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 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 military presence, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.”
Uncertain Future and Global Criticism
The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an unspecified period.
“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”
International condemnation 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.
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 very keen interest 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 clear view.”
