The US House of Representatives rejects a resolution to prevent strikes inside Venezuela
The US House of Representatives rejected two resolutions that would have required President Donald Trump to obtain congressional approval before launching any attack on Venezuela, and to continue his campaign to strike ships in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
The American New York Times explained in its issue issued on Thursday that the votes, which were mostly based on party affiliation, came at a time when representatives from both parties expressed serious concern about the nature and legitimacy of naval strikes, as well as the lack of consultation with the administration. to Congress regarding these operations, and fears that President Trump’s movements in the region may lead to a broader conflict.
These developments come a day after President Trump announced what he described as a “total siege” On sanctioned oil tankers coming and leaving Venezuela, in an escalation of his administration’s pressure campaign on President Nicolas Maduro.
She continued that such votes were a victory for President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, who are facing difficulty in containing opposition within the party and have taken exceptional measures to avoid votes that directly challenge the president’s authority.
And in an attempt to force the House To debate the issue, Democratic Reps. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Gregory Meeks of New York cited provisions of the War Powers Act of 1973, which requires that resolutions aimed at ending hostilities be considered under expedited procedures.
The draft resolution introduced by Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, was intended to end strikes against ships in the Caribbean or Pacific “unless authorized by a declaration of war or specific congressional authorization for the use of force.” “.
Since the campaign began in September, the United States has launched at least 26 strikes on ships accused of transporting drugs to American shores, killing at least 99 people in the Caribbean and Pacific, according to the newspaper.
As for the proposal by McGovern, one of the leading anti-war voices in Congress, it was intended to force the Trump administration to seek permission from Congress before engaging in any hostile actions “within or against Venezuela.”
Over the past months, US forces have strengthened their naval presence in the Caribbean while Trump continues his threats to strike targets inside Venezuela. The blockade announcement on Tuesday appeared to be aimed at targeting a vital economic artery to further pressure Maduro’s government.
McGovern said before the vote: "I don’t want any war in Venezuela." I am deeply disturbed by the idea of endless wars on which America is spending its wealth in ill-defined wars, at a time when we cannot even provide health care in our country.”
Only two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Don Bacon of Nebraska, joined most Democrats in supporting the resolution to stop naval strikes, which was rejected by a vote of 216 to 210. While Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, two Democrats from Texas, were the only two members who voted against the Meeks resolution.
As for the other resolution to prevent an attack on Venezuela, only three Republicans, Bacon, Massie, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, supported it, while 213 representatives rejected it, compared to 211. Cuellar was the only Democrat to reject it.
The Republicans used Supporters of the president have statements, drawings, and photos of affected families to accuse Democrats of ignoring the drug crisis that is claiming the lives of thousands of Americans.
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