A bold move by the US has sparked controversy and raised questions about the nation's involvement in Venezuela. Is the US at war in Venezuela?
Despite the recent raid ordered by President Donald Trump to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has stated that the US is "not at war" in Venezuela. This statement comes after a series of escalating actions by the US, including a blockade of oil shipments and airstrikes that have resulted in over 100 fatalities.
Trump's administration has claimed that the newly appointed interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, will cooperate with their demands for US oil companies to take control of Venezuela's crude reserves. However, Democrats have criticized Trump for engaging in a conflict that contradicts his campaign promises, without seeking congressional approval.
Following a briefing with top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Johnson clarified that Trump's intention is not to militarily occupy Venezuela. "We are not at war. We do not have US armed forces in Venezuela, and we are not occupying that country," Johnson asserted, disagreeing with Democratic criticisms that Trump acted unlawfully.
Johnson described the situation as a "demand for change of behavior" by the Venezuelan regime, with the hope that the interim government can rectify the situation. The Trump administration has accused Maduro's government of being a "narco-terrorist" regime, trafficking drugs like fentanyl into the US, a claim disputed by experts. They also allege that Maduro allowed US rivals like China and Russia, as well as armed groups like Hezbollah, to operate in Venezuela, establishing a foothold in the Western Hemisphere.
Johnson believes that the US strategy of choking Venezuela's oil production will force the socialist government to change and eventually hold new elections. Analyses of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election results indicate that Maduro stole the victory from the main opposition candidate.
"We have a way of persuasion, as their oil exports have been seized. I believe this will lead to a new governance very soon," Johnson said, adding, "So we don't expect troops on the ground."
However, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns, stating that the briefing raised more questions than it answered. Schumer warned that the US could be drawn into a new war.
"Their plan for the US running Venezuela is vague and based on wishful thinking. I did not receive any assurances that we would not attempt similar actions in other countries... When the US engages in regime change and nation-building, it always ends up hurting the US. I left the briefing with that feeling," Schumer said.
Maduro, who was arrested along with his wife, Cilia Flores, has been indicted on four charges related to guns, drugs, and narco-terrorism. He pleaded not guilty in a New York City court earlier on Monday. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, with dozens of countries denouncing the US incursion as a "crime of aggression."
Democratic senators plan to force a vote on a war powers resolution this week, requiring congressional permission for any further military action in Venezuela. It is uncertain if this resolution will pass in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Monday's briefing was limited to the top Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the bipartisan leaders of committees overseeing intelligence, foreign policy, and the armed forces. Johnson announced that top administration officials will brief all lawmakers on the Venezuela strategy on Wednesday.
While the Trump administration describes the raid as a law enforcement operation backed by the military, Congress's judiciary committees were notably excluded from Monday's briefing. Republican Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley and Democratic Ranking Member Dick Durbin issued a joint statement protesting their exclusion, stating, "There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing. The administration's refusal to acknowledge our committee's jurisdiction is unacceptable, and we are following up to ensure the committee receives warranted information regarding Maduro's arrest."
Brian Mast, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that congressional approval was not necessary before the attack, calling it "not an operation that requires authorization." He compared the capture of Maduro to Trump's killing of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani and the bombing raid against Tehran's nuclear facilities, describing them as swift military actions that did not require long-term US troop commitment.
"They are not an administration that engages in protracted wars; they never have been. They haven't produced a protracted war," Mast said.
