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Top officials from the administration went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the seizure of a current national leader from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Disclosed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs 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 transported him to a New York City jail cell.

This briefing marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved elite American troops swooping into Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on 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.”

Partisan Split Erupts in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. Republicans have rallied behind the portrayal 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 set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action.

“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 regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Court Case

In the early morning hours, special operations forces struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, flew 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 Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session disbelieving, 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 micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” 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 legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment echoes the partisan split 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 military presence, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Uncertain Future and International Condemnation

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

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.”

Global criticism has been swift. 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 targeted law enforcement.

Broader Strategic Focus

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights 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 seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling 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.”