Top officials from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital.
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 Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a detention facility in New York.
This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; 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.”
Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal 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 set a dangerous precedent for executive power.
“What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.”
In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted 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 “drug terrorism” conspiracy.
One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.”
“This is an reckless scheme,” 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 detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.
This criticism reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment echoes the political division 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 limits are in place.”
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 awe of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”
Global criticism has been rapid. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers called for Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. justified the move as a precise police action.
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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no plans 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.”
Marcus Sterling is a financial analyst specializing in precious metals, with over 15 years of experience in global markets and investment strategies.