Senators vow push to prohibit US military action in Venezuela if Trump pursues strikes against the country
In a recent development regarding U.S. foreign policy towards Venezuela, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) have expressed their intent to challenge any military action that President Donald Trump may consider against the South American nation. During a Senate floor speech, Schumer, alongside Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), announced plans to introduce a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at preventing the use of U.S. troops in Venezuela. Schumer emphasized that “Americans do not want a pointless war in Venezuela,” highlighting a growing concern among lawmakers about the potential for military escalation in the region. The bipartisan effort also includes Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), indicating a unified front across party lines against unilateral military action.
The backdrop of this political maneuvering includes the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign against narco-terrorism, which has seen strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. A White House spokesperson reiterated the administration’s commitment to combating drug-related violence and trafficking, framing any military actions as necessary measures to protect American lives. However, Kaine and other senators are wary of escalating tensions, especially after a failed joint resolution earlier this year that sought to limit the president’s authority to engage militarily in Venezuela. The resolution was blocked largely along party lines, with only a few Republican senators supporting it. Schumer’s recent comments and the planned resolution reflect a significant legislative push to rein in presidential military authority, especially in light of Trump’s provocative statements regarding Venezuelan airspace, which he suggested should be considered closed to various entities, including airlines and drug traffickers.
This ongoing discourse reveals a complex intersection of domestic politics and international relations, as lawmakers navigate the implications of military intervention in Venezuela. The potential for conflict raises questions about U.S. foreign policy priorities and the role of Congress in authorizing military action. With bipartisan concerns about the consequences of war, Schumer, Kaine, and their colleagues are poised to take a stand against any impulsive military decisions, advocating for a more measured approach that prioritizes diplomacy over conflict. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will respond to this legislative challenge and what implications it may have for U.S.-Venezuela relations moving forward.
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Senate Minority Leader
Chuck Schumer
, D-N.Y., and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., have indicated that if President Donald Trump pursues military action against Venezuela, they will seek to prohibit U.S. attacks against the foreign nation.
During a Senate floor speech on Monday, Schumer said he, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., “will immediately file a war powers resolution to force congressional action to block the use of troops in Venezuela” should Trump move to carry out strikes against the South American country.
“Americans do not want a pointless war in Venezuela,” he declared.Â
During a Monday appearance on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper,”
Schumer said,
“First, the bill is bipartisan — it’s Rand Paul, Tim Kaine, myself, and, I think now, Sen. [Adam] Schiff.”Â
TRUMP SAYS ‘DON’T READ ANYTHING INTO IT’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT DECLARING VENEZUELA’S AIRSPACE CLOSED
Schiff is a Democrat from California.
Kaine indicated during an appearance Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that if the U.S. conducts military action against Venezuela, he will “immediately” move with Schumer, Paul and Schiff.
When asked about the U.S. potentially attacking Venezuela directly, the
White House
instead appeared to reference the War Department’s ongoing campaign striking suspected narco-terror boats in the Caribbean.
“On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to take on the cartels, and he has taken unprecedented action to stop the scourge of narco-terrorism that has resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans. All of these decisive strikes have been against designated narco-terrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores, and the president will continue to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.Â
Earlier this year, Kaine, Paul and Schiff pushed a joint resolution to prohibit the president from unilaterally
attacking Venezuela,
but the effort was stymied when all but two Republican senators — Paul and Sen. Lisa Murkowsk of Alaska — voted against advancing the proposal past a procedural hurdle.
US ESCALATION WITH MADURO HALTS DEPORTATION FLIGHTS TO VENEZUELA
“Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force,” the proposal stated.
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.”
TRUMP GAVE MADURO ULTIMATUM TO FLEE VENEZUELA AS LAND OPERATIONS LOOM: REPORT
In a Truth Social post Saturday,
Trump suggested
Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed.
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“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” he declared
in the post.
