US Senate takes step to limit Trump’s military actions in Venezuela
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the US (Getty Images)
The US Senate has approved consideration of a resolution that would prevent President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without Congress’s approval, Axios reports.
57 senators voted in favor of considering the resolution, while 47 voted against it. Five Republicans — Rand Paul, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, and Josh Hawley of Missouri — joined the Democrats in supporting the resolution.
It is important to note that the vote was procedural (a "motion to proceed"), but, as Axios writes, it indicates that there is enough support in the Senate for the resolution to pass. It is likely to happen next week.
The measure would still need to be considered by the House of Representatives. The White House stated that Trump would veto the action.
Journalists noted that the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has raised concerns among both parties that the White House is considering possible attacks on Greenland and other Latin American countries.
US operation in Venezuela
On the night of January 3, the US carried out strikes in Venezuela. The operation was limited in scope: around 2:00 a.m. local time, aircraft were spotted over Caracas, followed by explosions.
The strikes targeted military infrastructure, including Fort Tiuna, the Francisco de Miranda Air Base, the parliament building, and the residence of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López. Military helicopters, including CH-47 Chinooks and MH-60 Black Hawks, were also observed in the skies over the capital.
Later, Donald Trump stated that the US conducted a major operation against Venezuela and its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who, according to him, was captured and removed from the country.
At the same time, Trump effectively confirmed that this was not a full-scale invasion. Prior to his statement, the Venezuelan authorities had already declared a state of emergency, begun mobilization, and activated national defense plans.
