Condemning Unauthorized Military Actions, Violations of Foreign Sovereignty, and Recurring U.S. Interventionist Failures in Latin America

WHEREAS, The United States Constitution assigns to Congress exclusive authority to authorize war and the use of military force abroad; and

WHEREAS, Respect for national sovereignty is a cornerstone of international law and peaceful global relations; and

WHEREAS, The United States has a documented history of intervention in Latin America that supported authoritarian regimes and resulted in long-term instability and human rights abuses, including support for Fulgencio Batista in Cuba, Augusto Pinochet in Chile, and Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic; and

WHEREAS, Statements or rhetoric suggesting military or coercive action against sovereign nations, including references concerning Venezuela, Colombia, and Greenland, risk repeating historic interventionist mistakes; and

WHEREAS, Recent actions resulting in the capture of the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his transfer into United States custody, outside a traditional extradition or international legal process, reflect a dangerous escalation and echo past interventionist practices shown to be harmful; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Rhode Island condemns any unauthorized military action undertaken without the express approval of the United States Congress, which coincides with the resolution passed last week by the U.S. Senate which states that the United States should not take any further action without Congressional approval; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate condemns violations of foreign sovereignty, coercive threats or rhetoric against sovereign nations, and extraterritorial seizures of foreign leaders outside lawful process; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the leadership of the United States Congress, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.