GOP Blocks Bill to Limit Trump's War Powers on Venezuela

Republicans in the US Senate have defeated a legislative initiative that would have required President Donald Trump to obtain congressional approval before launching any military action against Venezuela. Although two Republican senators joined the Democrats in voting for the bill, the initiative was defeated by a vote of 51 to 49.

This vote takes place against the backdrop of a significant increase in the American military presence off the coast of South America. Thousands of American service members, a nuclear submarine, and the US Navy's most modern aircraft carrier, the "Gerald R. Ford," are deployed in the region.

The situation has escalated after a series of military strikes targeted ships off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in the deaths of at least 65 people. The US, without presenting evidence, claims the bombed ships were carrying drugs, while Latin American leaders, some members of Congress, and relatives of the victims describe the attacks as extrajudicial killings, insisting that most of the victims were fishermen.

Fears are growing that Trump could use this military potential to launch an attack on Venezuela with the aim of overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro. "It's really an open secret that this is much more about potential regime change," stated Democratic Senator Adam Schiff.

The recent flight of American B-52 bombers in the skies over the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Venezuela, has further heightened tensions. It is noteworthy that these bellicose moves contradict the mood of American society. Recent polls have shown that only 18% of Americans support the use of limited military force to overthrow Maduro's government, and 74% are convinced that the president should not be able to carry out military strikes abroad without the permission of Congress.

Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers defend the Trump administration's actions, presenting them as efforts to prevent the flow of drugs into the US. "President Trump has taken decisive action to protect thousands of Americans from deadly drugs," stated Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.