US Senate advances resolution limiting Trump’s military actions in Venezuela

WEB DESK: The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to advance a resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump from conducting further military operations in Venezuela without congressional approval. The procedural vote passed 52 to 47, with a small number of Republicans joining Democrats in support, signaling rare bipartisan pushback against the White House.

Trump Signals Long-Term Oversight

In an interview with the New York Times, Trump indicated that U.S. oversight in Venezuela, including control of its oil revenues, could continue for years. He suggested that the aim is to “rebuild it in a very profitable way,” referencing operations following a weekend raid attempting to seize President Nicolas Maduro. Trump also invited Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro to Washington, seeming to ease tensions with Bogotá.

Political Prisoners Freed

Venezuelan authorities announced the release of numerous political and foreign prisoners as a unilateral gesture of goodwill. Lawmakers and human rights groups have long demanded these releases, especially following U.S. actions against Maduro. Local NGO Foro Penal estimates 863 political prisoners remain in detention, including activists, journalists, and protesters from the disputed 2024 election.

Opposition Meetings Planned

Trump confirmed plans to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Washington next week. He did not provide details on why the U.S. has not handed power to the opposition, previously recognised as the legitimate government by Washington.

Challenges Ahead for Resolution

The Senate measure must also pass the House and overcome a potential Trump veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers to become law. Despite this, Thursday’s vote marks a rare sign of congressional Republicans challenging the president.

Focus on Oil and Economic Recovery

Trump announced a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil currently blocked under U.S. sanctions. He will meet Friday with leaders of ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production, with planned investments estimated at $100 billion.

Humanitarian and Economic Context

Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, faces severe economic collapse, with 8 million citizens fleeing abroad. The Trump administration and opposition attribute the crisis to Socialist Party mismanagement and corruption, while Maduro blames U.S. sanctions.

Web Desk