USA Attack on Venezuela? US Senate rejects congressional say-so
US President Donald Trump does not need parliamentary approval for possible military action against Venezuela following a vote in the Senate. The chamber rejected a corresponding bill on Thursday (local time) by 51 votes to 49. The bill provided for any operations ordered by Trump against the South American country to be halted if they were not authorized by Congress.
07.11.2025, 08:41
SDA
The Republicans have a majority in both chambers of parliament - the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the vote, two Republicans joined the Democrats, who were nevertheless narrowly defeated.
Dozens killed in US attacks on alleged drug boats
The background to the decision is the massive deployment of US forces with which Trump wants to combat drug smuggling from Latin America into the USA. In recent weeks, dozens of people are said to have died in attacks on boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The USA speaks of smuggling "terrorists" and often makes a connection to Venezuela and its President Nicolás Maduro. The White House regards his government as a "terrorist drug cartel" with Maduro at its head.
The Washington Post reported that, contrary to the escalating rhetoric, there are no current plans and no stable legal basis to attack Venezuela directly. The US newspaper cites statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in a confidential meeting with selected members of Congress.
