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Senior leaders from the White House went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious armed interventions in recent US history: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Lawmakers

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a New York City jail cell.

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

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, finding access 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 predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Opposition party members 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 illegitimate president,” 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 Court Case

In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session incredulous, 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 at gunpoint for an undefined period as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall public opinion 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 the duration of this engagement. We need answers on military presence, funding, and what limits 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 “run” the country for an indeterminate time.

“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 swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers called for Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. justified the move as targeted law enforcement.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention 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 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.”