A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has launched a legislative initiative to curb President Donald Trump’s ability to order military actions against Venezuela without congressional approval. Photo: U.S. Senate Press
Guacamaya, October 17, 2025. Amid an increasingly intense climate of confrontation between Washington and Caracas, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators has launched a legislative offensive to limit President Donald Trump’s power to order military operations in Venezuela without Congressional authorization.
The move comes after the American president confirmed covert CIA operations on Venezuelan soil and the announcement of the withdrawal of the head of the Southern Command, in a context marked by warnings from Beijing and denunciations from Caracas at the UN.
The initiative, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and backed by figures from both parties—including Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Adam Schiff—seeks to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional control over the use of military force. “I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration is considering launching illegal military strikes in Venezuela without specific authorization from Congress,” Kaine stated.
The senator warned that any intervention could have serious humanitarian and political consequences for the region: “Americans do not want to send their sons and daughters to more wars, especially wars that carry a serious risk of significant destabilization and new massive migratory waves in our hemisphere.”
Republican Rand Paul agreed on the need to avoid a conflict without public debate: “The American people do not want to enter an endless war with Venezuela,” he emphasized, recalling that the Constitution requires “deliberation” before resorting to force.
The debate intensified following the announcement of Admiral Alvin Holsey’s resignation as head of the Southern Command (SouthCom), who will leave his post in December. Holsey, in charge of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, has not explained the reasons for his departure, although his resignation coincides with Congressional questioning about the legality of actions against alleged Venezuelan “narco-boats.”
“Admiral Holsey has served honorably for more than 37 years,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement, avoiding addressing criticisms about the Pentagon’s lack of transparency.
From Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of “interventionist actions” and called for the creation of “Latin American indigenous brigades” to defend Venezuela in case of an intervention. His government also announced it will file a complaint before the UN Security Council, labeling Trump’s statements about CIA operations as “immoderate and inconceivable.”
China also spoke out on Friday, urging respect for Venezuelan sovereignty and recalling its support for the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. “We firmly oppose any external interference under any pretext,” stated the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a warning that reinforces its stance against Washington’s pressures in the region.
The diplomatic crisis is worsening as fears of a direct confrontation in the Caribbean increase and international calls for moderation multiply.
