WASHINGTON – Both Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress are taking steps to prevent President Donald Trump from launching a military attack on Venezuela without explicit congressional approval. Lawmakers announced Tuesday that they will introduce resolutions aimed at blocking any such action.
Senators Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, and Rand Paul said in a joint statement that unauthorized military force against Venezuela would be a “colossal mistake.” The senators insist that any decision to initiate hostilities must first be approved through a congressional vote.
In addition to the Senate effort, three members of the House of Representatives are also moving to prohibit the Trump administration from engaging in or initiating hostilities in or against Venezuela without Congress’s consent.
The United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean in recent weeks in an effort to pressure President Nicolás Maduro. Since September, U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected narcotics vessels, resulting in 83 deaths. If the proposed resolutions are adopted, these operations would also be forced to cease.