Washington, Jan 8 (EFE).- The United States Senate approved a joint resolution on Wednesday to block new military incursions by President Donald Trump’s administration in Venezuela.
The measure, which is mostly symbolic, was approved by a vote of 52 to 47, as five senators from the Republican Party, which has a slim majority in the chamber, joined the Democratic side.
The resolution, introduced by Democrats and co-sponsored by Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, represents a rebuke to Trump following Saturday’s operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, about which Congress was not previously informed.
Although approval in the Senate is a significant first step, it must also be approved by the House of Representatives, where Republicans also hold a small majority, and then signed by Trump himself, who would likely veto it.
To override the veto, both chambers would have to re-approve the resolution by a two-thirds majority.
The House of Representatives already rejected similar resolutions in December to withdraw US troops in the event of a conflict with Venezuela.
Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Jim McGovern welcomed the Senate’s decision but urged House Majority Leader Mike Johnson to also put the resolution to a vote in the House.
Given the skepticism, the Democrats, led by McGovern, also presented a new joint resolution on Thursday similar to the one approved by the Senate, which they plan to vote on in the House of Representatives on January 22.
McGovern said the operation in Venezuela is not about democracy or human rights, but simply about Trump’s interests in the South American country’s oil.
”This is not about drugs. This is about oil, and under Trump America has become a big oil corporation with an army,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Committee member Joaquin Castro emphasized the importance of passing such resolutions in relation to Trump’s interest in taking control of Greenland, Cuba, and other regions.
Castro also criticized the use of funds for military operations in Venezuela when, he argued, many Americans are suffering from a lack of federal funds to subsidize health insurance. EFE
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