US President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, sparking outrage from Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The announcement follows a series of US military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, which have resulted in 27 deaths. UN-appointed human rights experts have criticized these raids as “extrajudicial executions.”
Speaking from the White House, Trump said the US is “looking at land” operations to combat drug cartels in the region, signaling potential escalation. Maduro, whose presidency remains internationally contested after disputed elections last year, called for peace, addressing the American people on television with a plea for “no war, yes peace.”
Approximately 10,000 US forces are reportedly positioned in the Caribbean, aboard ships or stationed in Puerto Rico, a US territory, heightening fears in Caracas of a possible military attack. According to the New York Times, the CIA’s authorization permits unilateral or broader military operations within Venezuela, though it is unclear if active missions are underway or planned contingencies.
During a White House briefing, Trump justified the authorization citing Venezuela’s role in releasing prisoners into the US and its involvement in drug trafficking. However, he declined to comment on whether the CIA’s mission included efforts to remove Maduro, for whom the US has offered a $50 million bounty.
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