News - World: The US Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from launching a military attack on Venezuela without congressional authorization.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats, led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), forced a vote on a war powers resolution intended to stop the Trump administration's military actions against Venezuela.

Kaine, along with Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), introduced the resolution earlier this month following Trump's suggestion of potential strikes on Venezuelan territory. They argued that such military actions should require congressional approval.

The resolution ultimately failed by a vote of 51 to 49, with opposition largely falling along party lines. However, Paul and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who had previously supported a resolution to block Trump’s strikes in the Caribbean, voted in favor.

This vote occurred amid ongoing threats of military aggression from Washington toward Caracas, despite claims from Trump administration officials that the US is not planning strikes on Venezuelan soil.

Since early September, US forces have conducted at least sixteen strikes against vessels in the Pacific and southern Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of more than 65 individuals.

President Trump has vowed to continue these strikes, framing them as part of a war on drugs. At the same time, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has dismissed these assertions, contending that the strikes are aimed at regime change and the appropriation of Venezuela's oil resources.

Earlier this month, Trump admitted to authorizing CIA operations in the region, citing concerns about Venezuela emptying its prisons into the United States and the flow of drugs from the country.

Washington has stepped up military deployments in the Caribbean under the guise of a counter-narcotics mission, sending warships, aircraft, and special operations forces close to the Venezuelan territory.

While US officials frame the moves as security operations, governments across Latin America warn the buildup resembles preparations for coercive regime-change efforts, citing recent US strikes on boats accused of drug activity.

Trump, however, has played down the prospect of a direct war with Venezuela while threatening that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

Source: Press TV