In Washington, the Senate is set to vote today on a resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s power to launch military action in Venezuela. This comes after a surprising raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The move has raised alarms in Congress and among legal experts.
For months, Trump has been considering strikes against Venezuela under the claim of fighting drug traffickers. Following the capture of Maduro, he stated the U.S. would manage the country and its oil resources temporarily. Senator Tim Kaine introduced this latest resolution, which seeks to withdraw U.S. forces unless Congress approves further military action.
“This isn’t just about a quick mission,” Kaine noted during his speech. “We’re talking about potential years of U.S. involvement.” However, without backing from enough Republicans, the resolution may fail like previous attempts.
Trump’s administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, insists that their actions, akin to a law enforcement operation, don’t require Congressional approval. Many within the administration argue that they are acting within constitutional boundaries. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that Congress has the authority to declare war but stated, “We are not in a war in Venezuela.”
Concerns have arisen over the U.S. military’s actions, with accusations of war crimes and unauthorized regime change. Senator Rand Paul, who is skeptical of the strikes, argued that taking military action in a foreign capital meets the definition of war.
Recent statistics reveal that during operations against drug trafficking, the Coast Guard interdicted 212 vessels suspected of smuggling between September 2024 and October 2025. Alarmingly, over 41 of these boats carried no illegal drugs at the time, raising questions about the actual effectiveness of the military’s actions.
The administration has framed the strikes as necessary to combat a non-international armed conflict against drug cartels, considered a threat to U.S. citizens. These cartels contribute to a significant number of overdose deaths in the U.S. yearly.
Despite these claims, many lawmakers want to see the detailed legal justification for the strikes, which remains classified. The lack of transparency has fueled criticism and concern about the potential for unintended consequences.
In December 2022, Trump signed an executive order labeling fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction.” This move aimed to bolster the U.S. stance against Venezuela, even though fentanyl wasn’t specifically linked to the charges against Maduro.
The complexities of military action in Venezuela illustrate ongoing tensions in U.S. foreign policy. As more details emerge, the journey to define the country’s role in Venezuela continues to evolve.
