US Congressman: White House Goals on Venezuela Remain Unclear

A member of the United States Congress has said that the White House has not clearly communicated its objectives and approach toward Venezuela to lawmakers, raising concerns among American legislators.

Mike Turner, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC News that President Donald Trump’s administration has not consulted or coordinated adequately with Congress regarding its policies and plans on Venezuela. According to Turner, this lack of communication has left Congress unaware of the White House’s true objectives.

Turner emphasized that the president has not acted transparently and has failed to establish effective communication with Congress on the matter. He added that the administration should explain its pressure tactics on Venezuela—particularly in economic and security sectors—to lawmakers, but such steps have yet to be taken.

The congressman also stated that the Trump administration’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker was intended to exert economic pressure on the country’s government. Meanwhile, U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea have been met with criticism from human rights organizations, with some of these groups calling them a form of “extrajudicial execution.”

Additionally, some political figures and officials in various countries have described the seizure of the Venezuelan tanker as a violation of international norms and have referred to it as an act of “piracy.”