House Rejects Limiting US Military Actions in Caribbean
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth walks to the auditorium to brief members of Congress on military strikes near Venezuela at the Capitol on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
House Republicans voted Wednesday to block two Democratic-backed resolutions that would have limited President Trump’s authority to use military force against drug cartels and against Venezuela.
Democrats forced the votes under the War Powers Act as President Trump has intensified threats toward the South American nation and as lawmakers have raised concerns about a military campaign that has destroyed 25 vessels the administration says were transporting drugs. Those strikes have reportedly killed at least 95 people.
The resolutions would have required the Trump administration to obtain congressional approval before continuing military action against cartels designated as terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere or before launching a direct attack on Venezuela, according to the Associated Press.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that the president’s actions in the region are driven by economic interests, saying Trump is “coveting Venezuelan oil.” The votes marked the first time the House has formally weighed in on the administration’s military operations in Central and South America.
Similar measures have previously failed in the Senate, where a majority of Republicans voted against them. Even if the resolutions were to clear Congress, President Trump would almost certainly veto them. Democrats said they pushed the votes to spark debate and force Republicans to publicly state their position on the military campaign.
Republican leaders have increasingly voiced support for the president’s actions, even as the operations raise the possibility of a direct confrontation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The administration has not sought congressional authorization for recent military actions in the Caribbean, arguing that it has the authority to target drug-smuggling vessels in the same way it would respond to terrorist threats against the United States. That justification has drawn heightened scrutiny, particularly after reports that a Sept. 2 operation killed two people who survived an initial strike.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other national security officials briefed members of Congress. They defended the campaign as an effective counter-narcotics effort that has reduced the flow of drugs into the U.S., but lawmakers said the administration did not clearly outline its long-term objectives regarding Venezuela.
About Post Author
