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

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

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 lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a New York City jail cell.

This briefing marked the initial instance the full Senate heard details of the 3 January attack, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, creating opportunities for companies to enter 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 expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members 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 illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across the country's north, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a U.S. air base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing disbelieving, 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 at gunpoint 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 pushback reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express concern the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall public opinion echoes 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 how long this is going to last. We need answers on military presence, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism

The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.”

Global criticism has been rapid. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing national security concerns.

“China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet 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 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 full display.”