Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorised the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, intensifying concerns over regional stability and prompting strong warnings from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the authorisation was intended to address drug smuggling and criminal activity, citing concerns over Venezuelan narcotics entering the United States.
The announcement follows recent US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, which have resulted in at least 27 deaths. Trump indicated that the US is also considering land-based measures to combat the flow of drugs from Venezuela. The President did not clarify whether these CIA operations were aimed at toppling Maduro, who currently faces a $50 million US bounty for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Maduro condemned the US actions and warnings, calling for peace and rejecting any attempts at regime change. In response to the escalating US presence, Maduro ordered military exercises in the Caracas suburb of Petare and neighboring Miranda state, mobilising the military, police, and civilian militia to defend the country. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil described the US deployments and CIA activities as a policy of “aggression, threat, and harassment.”
The Trump administration has deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and fighter jets to the Caribbean, officially to combat drug smuggling. US officials have alleged that Maduro is linked to the Cartel of the Suns, a network they claim includes senior Venezuelan military and security officials involved in drug trafficking, a claim Maduro denies.
Former CIA paramilitary officer Mick Mulroy explained that the presidential authorisation for covert operations marks a significant escalation in US efforts against drug-trafficking organisations, requiring detailed directives and specific operational objectives. Analysts warn that the US moves could further strain relations and heighten tensions across the region.
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