The BareStory
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a war powers resolution designed to limit President Trump’s military authority regarding Venezuela. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, advanced last week with support from all Democrats and five Republican senators following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. However, final passage is now uncertain as Senate Republican leadership attempts to block the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that Republicans may employ a procedural maneuver—raising a "point of order"—to argue the resolution should not receive privileged consideration because the U.S. is not currently engaged in active hostilities. Thune noted that the administration has provided assurances that there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela and no plans to deploy them. President Trump has publicly pressured the Republican senators who initially supported the measure, criticizing them as "real losers" and arguing they should not be re-elected.
One of those Republicans, Senator Josh Hawley, announced he would switch sides to support the GOP leadership's effort to block the resolution. Hawley stated his decision followed a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who assured him that the administration would seek congressional authorization before deploying any ground troops. Conversely, Senator Susan Collins affirmed she still supports the resolution, and Senator Rand Paul stated he would vote against the procedural challenge.
The resolution requires a simple majority to pass the Senate. Even if approved by Congress, the measure is expected to face a presidential veto, which would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override. President Trump recently claimed that U.S. and Venezuelan officials are "working well together" and that a "second wave" of attacks had been called off.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
Administration assurances indicate no current plans for U.S. ground troops in Venezuela, with officials promising to seek congressional authorization before any future deployment occurs.
Even if the Senate approves the resolution to limit presidential war powers, the measure faces a probable presidential veto that would require a two-thirds majority to override.
The immediate potential for military escalation appears to be pausing, as officials report cooperation with Venezuelan leaders and the cancellation of further planned attacks.
