🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Raid on Venezuela as GOP Backs the President After Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest armed interventions in modern American memory: the seizure of a current national leader from his home city. Details of the Raid Disclosed to Lawmakers The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the top military officer 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 brought him to a detention facility in New York. This session marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to seize 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 rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression 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 properly voted into office, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.” Operational Timeline 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 delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “narco-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 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 unspecified time as a bargaining chip to micromanage the country.” 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 ought to have needed legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment echoes the political division 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 military presence, financial cost, and what limits are in place.” Uncertain Future and International Condemnation The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. 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 awe of the capability of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.” International condemnation has been rapid. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. defended the action as targeted law enforcement. Broader Strategic Focus Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights 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 seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance. “Our military is prepared to continue this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on clear view.”