🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Raid on Venezuela as Republicans Defend the President After Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest armed interventions in modern American memory: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital. Details of the Raid Revealed to Lawmakers The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a detention facility in New York. This briefing marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. A Plan Centered on Oil Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “a transitional period.” “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 Emerges in Washington Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. 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 leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never properly voted into office, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.” Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces hit several locations across northern Venezuela, captured 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 stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy. Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, 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 at gunpoint for an undefined period as a bargaining chip to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability. This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation ought to have needed congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern 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 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 International Condemnation The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time. “The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.” International condemnation has been swift. 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 a precise police action. Wider Security Concerns Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing defense 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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating 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 promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”