Rubio Defends Venezuela Mission as Senate Hearing Debates Strategy

In a Senate Foreign Relations hearing, Rubio defended the U.S. operation to seize Maduro, pressed for cooperation from Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, and warned force could be used if necessary, while Democrats argued the mission is costly and destabilizing amid growing Chinese/Russian influence. Sen. Risch framed the action as limited and constitutional, and Sen. Shaheen criticized the administration’s broader strategy. The report also notes U.S. strikes on drug-smuggling boats, regional troop deployments, and ongoing debates over the War Powers Act and congressional authorization.