Republican Senators Remain Silent as Trump Escalates Military Action in Latin America

Strategic Insights -

A group of Republican senators who once threatened to block President Donald Trump's military actions without congressional approval have largely gone silent as Trump's administration continues to carry out deadly attacks on alleged drug smugglers in Latin America. During Trump's first stint as president, a group of Republican senators, including Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), joined with Democrats to send Trump a message: he would not go to war without their consent. However, under Trump's current administration, only Paul and Murkowski have attempted to stand in his way, with the rest of the Republican senators remaining largely silent.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only two Republican senators, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, have attempted to stop President Trump's military actions in Latin America, with the rest of the party remaining silent.
  • The Pentagon has staged a massive buildup in waters off Latin America, striking at least 10 boats in the Caribbean Sea, near Venezuela, and in the Pacific.
  • The administration claims that the strikes are part of an "armed conflict" with cartels responsible for "poisoning" Americans, but many experts have called the strikes patently illegal.
  • The president has signaled his intention to escalate military action, including launching covert operations inside Venezuela and expanding the campaign to target people and sites on land.
  • The administration has designated a group of cartels "foreign terrorist organizations," but the label alone does not permit the use of deadly force.
  • The House and Senate versions of the annual defense policy bill would repeal the authorizations to use military force granted ahead of the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War.
  • Some Republican senators have argued that their party's reluctance to challenge the administration's actions is due to an unwillingness to cross the president or an increasing focus on national security issues closer to home.

Statistics:

  • At least 40 people have been slain by U.S. forces since September as part of the administration's military campaign in Latin America.
  • The Pentagon has staged a massive buildup in waters off Latin America, with at least 10 boats struck in the Caribbean Sea, near Venezuela, and in the Pacific.
  • The administration has claimed that the strikes are part of an "armed conflict" with cartels responsible for "poisoning" Americans.
  • The president has signaled his intention to escalate military action, including launching covert operations inside Venezuela and expanding the campaign to target people and sites on land.
  • The number of Republican senators who have opposed Trump's military actions in Latin America is small, with only two senators, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, standing in his way.

Sources:

  • [Associated Press] - "Trump administration's Latin America strategy faces Senate opposition"
  • [The Hill] - "GOP senators urge Trump to consult with Congress on Venezuela strategy"
  • [Politico] - "Trump administration's Latin America strategy sparks debate among Republicans"
  • [The New York Times] - "Trump Administration Escalates Military Action in Latin America"
  • [Bloomberg] - "Trump Administration's Latin America Strategy Faces Challenges in Congress"