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Senior leaders from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious armed interventions in modern American memory: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Disclosed to Lawmakers

The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, 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 first time the full Senate heard details of the 3 January attack, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela before dawn to capture 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, stabilization of the country; 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.”

Political Divide Emerges in Washington

Beyond the oil, 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 indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos 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 duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across the country's north, 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 appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session 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 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 ought to have needed legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment echoes the partisan split 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 military presence, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Uncertain Future and International Condemnation

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

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer about what comes next.”

International condemnation has been rapid. 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.

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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no plans to ease pressure.

“Our military is prepared to continue this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to advance our interests, and that is on full display.”