ALBAWABA- The U.S. Senate narrowly advanced a bipartisan war powers resolution designed to block President Donald Trump from undertaking further military actions against Venezuela without prior congressional approval.
The procedural vote passed 52–47, clearing the way for extended debate and a possible full Senate vote next week.
Sponsored by Sen.
Tim Kaine (D-VA), the measure drew rare bipartisan backing as five Republican senators, Josh Hawley (MO), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Rand Paul (KY), and Todd Young (IN), joined all Democrats in supporting the advance.
The resolution is a direct response to a weekend U.S. military operation in Caracas that kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, a move that infuriated many lawmakers who say the administration acted without consulting Congress.
Trump’s team has framed the campaign as part of efforts to counter perceived threats from drug trafficking and foreign influence, but the tactics risk unlawful overreach and potential conflict expansion.
If enacted, the resolution would force Trump to seek explicit congressional authorization before any sustained military engagement in Venezuela, including potential future strikes or deployments.
Democratic supporters view the measure as a crucial assertion of the Constitution’s allocation of war powers to Congress, while opponents, including many in Trump’s party, argue it could tie the president’s hands on national security.
The resolution still faces major hurdles. It must clear the Republican-controlled House and is expected to encounter a presidential veto if passed into law.
Nonetheless, the Senate’s move highlights rising unease on Capitol Hill over unchecked executive authority in foreign affairs and fractures within the GOP over Trump’s aggressive regional strategy.
