🔗 Share this article

Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his home city.

Details of the Raid Revealed to Senators

Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, 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 brought him to a New York City jail cell.

This briefing marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into 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 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 Erupts in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has split Washington along predictable lines. 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 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 duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations 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 stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

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

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources 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 stability.

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed 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, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

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 Maduro apparatus is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capability of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.”

International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Broader Strategic Focus

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 took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention 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.”