Trump administration officials on Wednesday began outlining a makeshift strategy for taking indefinite control of Venezuela’s oil sales, as they race to maintain stability within the nation after overthrowing its leader.

The War Powers Resolution passed 52 to 47, with Democrats joined by five Republicans, including Susan Collins and Rand Paul.

The president has repeatedly tied Venezuela to drug overdose deaths, claimed the Maduro regime sent an influx of criminal migrants and accused the country of stealing American oil.

Energy experts say the US and China are diverging on the energy transition, with China sprinting far ahead on renewables and EVs, while the US doubles down on drilling oil at home and abroad.

Republican Sens. Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Rand Paul and Josh Hawley voted with all Democrats to advance the measure.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, who led the bipartisan resolution, said that Trump's actions in Venezuela are "clearly illegal" because he did not seek congressional approval.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, President Trump said “only time will tell” when it comes to how long the United States aims to control the country.

Billionaire energy entrepreneur and Republican donor Harry Sargeant III and his team are advising the Trump administration on how the U.S. can engineer a return of some American oil companies to Venezuela,