Senate advances measure to curb Trump’s war powers on Venezuela as president touts long-term U.S. oversight
The U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to advance a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare bipartisan rebuke as the White House signals years-long involvement in the oil-rich nation.
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The procedural vote moved the war powers measure toward a final Senate vote with a handful of Republicans joining all Democrats. Even if it clears the Senate, the resolution faces a steep path in the Republican-controlled House, and would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a likely veto from Trump.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said U.S. “oversight” of Venezuela and control of its oil revenue could last “much longer” than a year. “We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” he said, adding that he had sent U.S. troops to seize President Nicolás Maduro in a night raid on Saturday. Trump also said the United States was “getting along very well” with the government of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro loyalist who served as his vice president.
Inside Venezuela, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said a significant number of foreign and Venezuelan prisoners would be released during the day, describing the move as a unilateral gesture of peace. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Local rights group Foro Penal estimates there are 863 political prisoners, including opposition figures, activists, protesters detained after the disputed 2024 election and journalists.
Top opposition leader María Corina Machado’s movement and other human rights groups have repeatedly demanded the release of political prisoners since Maduro’s capture. Trump told Fox News’ “Hannity” he plans to meet Machado in Washington next week. The Times reported Trump declined to answer why he had not handed power to the opposition, which Washington had previously considered the legitimate winner of the 2024 vote.
On energy, Trump on Tuesday unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil he said had been stuck in the country under a U.S. blockade. He is expected to meet heads of major oil companies at the White House to discuss boosting Venezuela’s production. Representatives from Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron are expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the planning. The companies, which have long experience in Venezuela, declined to comment. Trump told Fox News oil companies will spend at least $100 billion in the country.
Trump also appeared to ease tensions with neighboring Colombia, inviting President Gustavo Petro — whom he previously called a “sick man” — to visit Washington. “It was a great honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had. I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” Trump wrote on social media. Petro described the call, his first with Trump, as cordial.
The Senate vote marked an uncommon moment of resistance within Trump’s party to his foreign policy approach. The president lashed out at defecting Republicans on social media, writing, “Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America.”
Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has seen a historic economic collapse over the past decade, fueling one of the world’s largest migration crises, with an estimated 8 million people leaving the country. Washington and the Venezuelan opposition have long blamed the ruling Socialist Party for corruption and mismanagement. Maduro has attributed the country’s economic pain to U.S. sanctions.
As Congress weighs whether to limit the president’s latitude to use force, Trump’s comments signal a bet that U.S. influence over Venezuela’s political transition — and its oil — could shape the region for years.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
