1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to publicly condemn the military operation President Trump announced on Saturday against Venezuela and to take immediate legislative action to prevent further violations of international law. Trump stated that US troops conducted a large-scale strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Regardless of the indictments against Maduro in New York on terrorism and drug charges, this unilateral military action against a sovereign nation raises serious concerns about violations of international law. Leading international law experts have questioned the legality of this operation, with concerns emerging even among some of Trump's allies. Under international law, military action against a sovereign nation requires either UN Security Council authorization or a legitimate claim of self-defense against an armed attack. Venezuela has not attacked the United States. The characterization of Venezuela's government as a narco terrorist organization does not provide legal justification for invading another country and capturing its head of state. This operation sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the entire framework of international law governing relations between nations. The consequences of allowing this action to stand unchallenged are profound. If the United States can unilaterally invade sovereign nations and capture their leaders based on domestic indictments, we invite other nations to do the same and abandon the rules-based international order that has prevented major conflicts for decades. This threatens American security and global stability. I urge you to introduce or co-sponsor legislation that reasserts Congressional authority over military operations, condemns this action, and prevents similar violations of international law. Please also call for immediate hearings to investigate the legal basis for this operation and hold the administration accountable for its actions.