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Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his own capital.

Details of the Raid Disclosed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, 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 home in Caracas and transported him to a New York City jail cell.

This session 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 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.”

Partisan Split Emerges in Washington

Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. Republicans have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation and establish a troubling new norm 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 a change in government if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court pleading not guilty 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 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 detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion mirrors 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 troop levels, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and International Condemnation

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still in place,” 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 called for Maduro’s prompt freedom, 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 significant strategic stake 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 intention to ease pressure.

“Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of action to promote our national goals, and that is on clear view.”