The U.S. Senate voted 52 to 47 on Thursday to advance a resolution that would bar former President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, signaling a rare instance of Republican pushback against Trump’s policies. A small group of Trump-aligned Republicans joined every Democrat to move the war powers resolution toward a final vote. The measure would still need to pass the House of Representatives and secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a likely Trump veto.
The vote comes as Trump told the New York Times that the United States could oversee Venezuela and control its oil revenues “much longer” than months or a year, adding that the country would be “rebuilt in a very profitable way.” Trump also appeared to ease tensions with Colombia, inviting President Gustavo Petro, previously criticized by Trump, to visit Washington. Trump described the call with Petro as “cordial” and expressed optimism about future cooperation.
The situation in Venezuela remains complex. The country’s top lawmaker, Jorge Rodriguez, announced that a large number of both Venezuelan and foreign prisoners would be released as a unilateral gesture of peace. The move responds to repeated demands from opposition groups and human rights organizations, who have been calling for the release of political prisoners since the U.S.-led capture of Nicolas Maduro. Local rights group Foro Penal estimates there are currently 863 political prisoners in Venezuela, including politicians, activists, journalists, and post-election protesters.
Trump has declined to transfer power in Venezuela to opposition leaders, despite Washington previously recognizing them as the legitimate victors of the disputed 2024 elections. Meanwhile, he unveiled plans to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been blocked under U.S. sanctions. The plan aims to raise production and revenue from Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Trump is scheduled to meet with executives from major U.S. oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, to discuss the strategy, though the companies have declined to comment.
The U.S. and Venezuelan opposition blame the Socialist Party’s rule for widespread economic mismanagement and corruption, while Maduro blames U.S. sanctions for the country’s ongoing crisis, which has led to eight million people fleeing abroad. The Senate resolution and recent U.S. moves underscore continued tensions over the country’s future, U.S. involvement, and the handling of its energy resources.
