US senators seek to block Trump’s unsanctioned Venezuela attack.
The resolution was sponsored by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California, and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Schiff said in a statement on Thursday: “We are being dragged into a war with Venezuela that has no legal basis or congressional authorization. The Senate must be prepared to stop an illegal and unnecessary war, and that is putting thousands of American soldiers at risk.”
He stressed that the resolution must be put to a vote in the Senate.
Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul had previously introduced a bipartisan resolution that would have prohibited Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional authorization. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 51 to 49.
Since August, Washington has deployed warships, a submarine, military aircraft, and troops to the coast of Venezuela under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking. The US has also accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, without any evidence.
Maduro’s government has denied the accusations, calling them a US attempt to dominate the country’s energy reserves.
US forces have so far carried out at least 21 raids on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing at least 83 people.
US President Donald Trump announced again on Thursday morning that ground operations to combat drug traffickers would begin soon.