Article:
In a surprise move, the US Senate has voted to approve a resolution that would require Congress to approve any further military actions by President Donald Trump in Venezuela. The move comes just five days after the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The resolution, which aims to prevent Trump from taking military action without Congressional approval, was approved by a 52-47 vote, with five Republican Senators joining Democrats in voting for the measure.
The White House has stated that oil executives will visit Washington this week, and if necessary, Trump would have the authority to use the US military to protect oil workers. In a surprising turn of events, five Republican Senators broke with their party to support the measure, which has been seen as a significant blow to Trump’s administration.
President Trump has sharply criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that the vote undermines US defense and national security and interferes with the President’s authority as Commander in Chief. Trump has also described the War Powers Act as unconstitutional.
On the other hand, supporters of the measure argue that the US cannot be drawn into an “endless war” in Venezuela. US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has stated that there is a blockade in place on Venezuela’s oil shipments to any country in the world. Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, has argued that Congress has a constitutional duty to play a role in decisions regarding war and peace.
The resolution still needs to be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can become law. The White House has opposed the measure, stating that Trump has taken action under his constitutional authority to protect American citizens.
In related news, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stated that the US is entering an “extremely provocative and irrational era,” and that the Iranian people will not be defeated by any conspiracy. In other news, Pope Francis has stated that countries are now adopting a policy of power over diplomacy.
In other news, a powerful storm, Typhoon Goni, has left hundreds of thousands without power and hundreds of schools closed in the Philippines. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that she does not believe the US will launch a military operation to take control of Greenland.
In a separate development, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has stated that US statements are not a display of sympathy for the people, but rather an attempt to fuel chaos and violence.
