The US House of Representatives failed to pass a resolution banning military action against Venezuela or its territory without the approval of Congress, Reuters reports.
Two identical resolutions were put to the vote. The first was introduced by Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This resolution calls for the withdrawal of US forces from combat operations against “any terrorist organization designated by the President in the Western Hemisphere“ unless authorized by Congress. The House of Representatives voted 216 to “no” and 210 votes “in favor“.
The second resolution, 211 “in favor“ and 213 “against“, also calls on the US president to withdraw US troops from combat operations in Venezuela. It was introduced by Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee.
In early November, the US Senate also rejected a resolution that would have stripped President Donald Trump of the authority to use military force against Venezuela without congressional approval. Republicans blocked the Democratic initiative by 51 votes “in favor“ and 49 “against“.
On the night of December 18, amid rising tensions, three US aircraft appeared in the skies off the coast of Venezuela.
Venezuela asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to discuss “the ongoing US aggression“. The initiative arose against the backdrop of the increased US military presence in the Caribbean. By November, Washington had deployed several destroyers and landing ships there, increasing the contingent to 16,000 personnel. In December, an aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in the region.
Earlier, Trump announced a complete blockade of oil tankers subject to US sanctions and traveling to or from Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities characterized the US actions as those of a foreign terrorist organization.
Caracas strongly condemned the US actions, calling them an act of international piracy and stressing that Washington's policy is aimed at establishing control over the country's natural resources.