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Senior leaders from the administration went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest armed interventions in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his home city.

Operation Particulars Disclosed to Senators

Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a detention facility in New York.

This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, creating opportunities for companies to operate in 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 split Washington along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent for executive power.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” 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.”

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported 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 pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources under threat of force for an undefined period as leverage to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This criticism reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors 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 troop levels, funding, and what limits are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

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

“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 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 prompt freedom, while the U.S. justified the move as targeted law enforcement.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention toward Greenland, citing defense concerns.

“China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a very keen interest 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 clear view.”