The United States Senate approved a resolution on Thursday that limits President Donald Trump's ability to order new military strikes against Venezuela without Congressional authorization.
The measure, supported by Democrats and five Republican senators, emerges in response to the recent surprise operation in which U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Although the resolution is unlikely to become law, it conveys a strong message from the Legislature: there is growing concern about the unilateral use of military force by the president in Latin America.
A reaction following the raid against Maduro
The resolution, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, was approved with 52 votes in favor and 47 against, and requires that any future military action against Venezuela has the approval of Congress.
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All the Democrats supported her, along with five Republicans: Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Todd Young.
Kaine justified the initiative by stating that Congress cannot remain on the sidelines in light of operations like the one that resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife in Caracas over the past weekend.
"It is time for Congress to exercise its oversight over military actions of this kind, and it is time to take this out of secrecy and bring it to light," he stated.
The legislator warned that the assault, which resulted in injured American military personnel, represents an escalation that requires public debate and constitutional oversight.
What does the resolution actually impose?
The measure is supported by the War Powers Act of 1973, which states that the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating military action and must obtain legislative authorization if the intervention extends beyond 60 to 90 days.
The aim of the resolution is to prevent Trump from carrying out actions like the capture of Maduro without consulting the legislature, restricting troop deployments, bombings, or other military actions on Venezuelan territory without the express consent of Congress.
Senator Josh Hawley, one of the Republicans who voted in favor, was emphatic:
"If the president were to decide, 'You know what? I need to deploy troops in Venezuela,' I believe that would require the intervention of Congress."
Trump acted without notifying Congress
After the operation—dubbed Absolute Resolution—was confirmed, Trump defended his decision not to notify Capitol leaders in advance, citing security concerns.
"The Congress tends to leak information. It wouldn't be good if they leaked information; I believe the outcome would have been very different," he said.
Several lawmakers, including Republicans, acknowledged that they were informed only after the operation was completed.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it was a “conditional mission” that required absolute discretion.
"It's just not the kind of operation where you can call people and say, 'Hey, maybe we'll do this sometime in the next 15 days,'" Rubio explained.
Tensions within the Republican Party
Although most Republicans supported the president, internal rifts are beginning to become evident. Senator Rand Paul, a staunch advocate for legislative authority in matters of war, warned:
"The question is not whether Maduro is an autocrat. The question is who has the power to lead the country into war."
Senator Thom Tillis, although he voted against it, acknowledged his concerns about a potential prolonged occupation: "We have a history of going in, liberating, and coming out. I’m interested in the part about coming out."
For his part, the leader of the Republican majority, John Thune, supported the president's actions and sent a direct message to Caracas:
"I believe the president has already demonstrated a strong commitment to peace through strength, especially in this hemisphere. Venezuela received that message loud and clear."
Greenland, Cuba, and more: New Military Frontiers?
Beyond Venezuela, the senators also addressed the growing interest of the Trump administration in Greenland, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, and Nigeria, with alarming statements about the potential use of force to exert geopolitical control.
The White House did not rule out military options in Greenland, which has sparked a wave of backlash, even among Republicans.
Senator Paul stated that during a lunch of the Republican caucus, Trump's plans for Greenland were discussed, and he received no support.
Senator Rubén Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, is already working on a specific resolution to prevent unilateral actions in that territory: “We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim. No more endless wars.”
The Republican Thom Tillis went further and harshly criticized the president's team:
"These nonsense remarks about Greenland distract from the good work the president is doing. And the fans who said it was a good idea should lose their jobs."
The debate on presidential power
The discussion has once again focused attention on the institutional imbalance that has solidified since World War II: presidents act as commanders-in-chief, but Congress rarely exercises its constitutional power to declare war.
The War Powers Resolution, enacted after the Vietnam War despite Richard Nixon's veto, has never been enforced rigorously.
Democrats and some Republicans warn that Trump is pushing his limits further than ever before.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer condemned the president's foreign shift:
"The American people are wondering what the hell is going on in Venezuela and why this president, who campaigned with the slogan 'America First,' is now spending all his time on foreign getaways."
Congressman Jim McGovern was even more blunt:
"Without the authorization of Congress, and with the majority of Americans opposed to intervention, Trump launched an unjustified and illegal attack on Venezuela."
And now what?
Although the resolution does not have the force of law – it requires the president's support or a majority capable of overriding his veto – its approval marks a turning point.
For the first time, a majority in the Senate seeks to put a stop to Trump's military actions in Latin America.
The House of Representatives, where Republicans have a narrower majority, will soon debate a complementary version.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to strengthen his rhetoric on regional control and has announced that Venezuela will "exclusively purchase products made in the United States."
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