🔗 Share this article

Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Disclosed to Senators

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

This briefing marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; 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.”

Partisan Split 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 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.”

Sequence of Events 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, airlifted them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court 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 through military might.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for an unspecified time as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s 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 roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment 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 the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, financial cost, and what limits 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 “manage” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capacity of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.”

Global criticism has been swift. 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. justified the move as targeted law enforcement.

Broader Strategic Focus

Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention toward Greenland, citing national security 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 ease pressure.

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