US officials say no legal grounds for strikes on Venezuela

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 18:30

US officials told Congress there is no legal basis for launching strikes on Venezuela, citing a lack of justification, according to reports from a closed-door briefing.

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Leaves are blown from the North Lawn of the White House as the American flag is at half-staff, Thursday, November 4, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Officials from the United States government informed the US Congress that there is no legal basis for authorizing strikes inside Venezuela, according to a report by CNN on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The assessment was delivered during a closed-door briefing involving key figures from the Trump administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and a representative from the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel.

According to the report, the officials made it clear that the administration has no current plans to launch military operations on Venezuelan territory, citing a lack of legal justification for such actions.

This briefing comes amid ongoing speculation about the United States' stance toward Venezuela and concerns over potential military escalations in the Caribbean region.

The officials reportedly emphasized that, under existing US and international legal frameworks, there is no viable legal path to justify strikes on Venezuela at this time. The absence of congressional authorization or a direct threat to US national security was cited as a key factor limiting the administration's options.

Key officials outline position on Venezuela

Hegseth, who has previously taken a hardline stance on Latin American security issues, supported the legal opinion presented by the White House legal counsel. Rubio also backed the position during the briefing.

The discussion reflects the broader debate within the US Congress over the limits of executive power in military engagements, particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Despite rising tensions in the region, officials confirmed that the United States is not moving forward with any immediate military plans targeting Venezuela.