U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, appeared on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier to discuss the Trump Administration’s recent operation in Venezuela. During the interview, Risch addressed several aspects of U.S. involvement and its impact on Venezuelan leadership.
When asked about the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power, Risch stated: “When you’re in the business of flooding drugs into the United States, having elections the way Maduro got into power, that’s not right. It’s not good for our hemisphere. It’s bad for the United States of America, bad for the American people who we work for.”
On the subject of Venezuela’s transition of power following U.S. intervention, Risch said: “This is not an operation to start a forever war in Venezuela. It wasn’t an operation to change the regime, although, of course, that happened because the man committed the crimes he did and now has to pay for it. But if you look carefully at what happened when the United States went in there, we were very careful to see that we did not disrupt the infrastructure of the country. For instance, the police and other military operations were not touched by this.”
Discussing future steps for Venezuela and how Americans should view their role going forward, Risch commented: “It is important that the Venezuelan people step up and get to a place where there can be a very rational and reasonable election. There’s been celebrations by Venezuelans all over the world, they’re glad to see Maduro gone. But the Venezuelans are now going to have to step up. That’s what we want to see them do. We’re not imperialists. We don’t want to run this country. We don’t want to make this a situation where America is running the country. It needs to be done by the Venezuelan people. We want to encourage them.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee plays a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy through examination of treaties and legislation as part of its legislative duties within international relations (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/history). The committee is led by its Chairman—currently Senator Risch—and a Ranking Member who heads minority members (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/membership). Since its establishment in 1816 as one of the original standing committees of the Senate (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/history), it has influenced major foreign policy decisions including support for measures like the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/history), as well as rejecting treaties such as Versailles after World War I (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/history).
