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

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a detention facility in New York.

This briefing marked the initial instance the entire chamber heard details of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours 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 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 Emerges in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has split Washington along expected partisan divides. Republicans have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across the country's north, apprehended 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 appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil under threat of force for an undefined period as leverage 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 worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors 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 how long this is going to last. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what limits are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism

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

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus 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.”

International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers called for Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Broader Strategic Focus

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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance.

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