Doesn't need Congress to launch strikes in Venezuela: Trump

WASHINGTON, Dec 19: US President Donald Trump asserted Thursday he does not need congressional approval to launch strikes on land against Venezuela despite criticism that he is already exceeding his constitutional authority with attacks at sea.

When a reporter asked whether he would seek authorization from the US lawmakers to hit drug cartels on land in the Latin American country, Trump said he'd have no problem doing that, although he cited concerns that politicians "leak like a sieve."

"I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them," he said in the Oval Office.

The United States has conducted multiple air strikes since September against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, causing at least 99 deaths and prompting heated debate about the legality of the operations.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the US campaign seeks regime change instead of its stated goal of stopping drug trafficking.

According to the US Constitution, while the president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, only Congress has the authority to formally declare war -- a point raised not just by the Democratic opposition but also some lawmakers in the president's party, although most Republicans have supported him.

"The president has failed to demonstrate the necessary authority under US or international law to conduct lethal military strikes on these boats," Democratic representative Gregory Meeks said during a House debate.

"No one can credibly claim that these vessels, in some cases not even traveling to the United States and located thousands of miles from US soil, posed an imminent threat to the American people warranting the use of military force," he said.

Experts say Trump could order limited military strikes inside Venezuela without Congress, but only temporarily and only if framed as defensive or limited in scope.

After the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Congress authorized the use of military force for US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which was also cited for counterterrorism operations in other countries.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping defense policy bill into law Thursday that signaled strong bipartisan support for Europe and defied the US leader's increasingly hostile posture toward NATO and America's closest allies.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), one the few remaining rituals of cross-party cooperation in Congress even as divisions sharpen elsewhere in Washington, sets out the country's national security and foreign policy priority areas for the coming year, according to lawmakers.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump signed into law a measure which raises pay for US troops, codifies the country's "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH agenda," and "funds the Golden Dome" air and missile defense system backed by Trump.

The NDAA, at some $900 billion, also "removes woke priorities" like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs opposed by many conservatives, and "requires promotions based on merit, not DEI," Kelly added.

The Senate easily passed the NDAA measure on Wednesday following the House's green light last week.

The success comes amid unease in European capitals over Trump's rhetoric, especially after the recent White House national security strategy painted Europe as over-regulated, culturally adrift and insufficiently committed to its own defense.

The strategy questioned the continent's strategic value and openly echoed themes championed by far-right parties, fueling fears of a widening transatlantic rift.

By contrast, the NDAA reflects lawmakers' determination to anchor the United States firmly in Europe.

The bill bars US troop levels on the continent from falling below 76,000 for more than 45 days and restricts the removal of major military equipment, effectively tying the administration's hands on any rapid drawdown.

It also boosts resources for frontline NATO states, particularly in the Baltic region, reinforcing the alliance's northeastern flank.

The measure authorizes roughly $8 billion more than the administration requested, a signal of congressional assertiveness on defense priorities.    �"AFP