American Congress leaders left a confidential briefing lasting over two hours, held yesterday on Monday, with radically different interpretations regarding the short-term and long-term goals of President Donald Trump's administration in Venezuela, amid a sharp partisan divide over the legal and constitutional basis of the US action.
According to the news site "Axios", Republicans affirmed that the operation does not rise to the level of declaring war.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: "There are no American troops in Venezuela, and we are not about to occupy this country."
In contrast, Democrats considered that Trump has ignited a war that will have serious, and possibly widespread consequences.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that they "have received no assurances that the same will not be repeated in other countries."
Pandora's Box
Participating in the briefing, designated for Congress leaders and senior members of the Intelligence Committees of both the House and the Senate, were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Higseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Johnson said that "a broader briefing for Congress members is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday."
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that legislators had many questions but added that he was "largely satisfied with the answers," describing the discussion as broad and robust about the operation and the path forward.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she now has a better understanding of what Trump meant regarding the US's management of Venezuela.
In the same context, Democrats expressed new concerns that Trump might be hinting at controlling other territories, such as Greenland, after stating this week: "We need Greenland from a national security perspective."
Senator Ruben Gallego introduced an amendment to the annual defense budget bill, prohibiting the use of funds for any military action or hostilities against Greenland.
Senator Schumer in a speech before the Senate said: "The danger in Venezuela has just begun," adding: "Donald Trump has opened Pandora's box, and things could spiral out of control very quickly."
