A significant escalation in US-Venezuela relations unfolded this week as President Donald Trump confirmed he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. Adding to the gravity, Trump also revealed his administration is actively “mulling land-based military operations” inside the South American nation. These revelations come on the heels of multiple deadly US strikes on Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean Sea, further ratcheting up tensions.
During a White House news conference, Trump was directly questioned about an earlier New York Times report regarding the CIA authorization. His response laid out two primary justifications for the move:
- “They have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.” This oft-repeated, yet unsubstantiated, claim was presented as a key driver for intervention.
- Venezuela’s role in drug-trafficking. Trump stated, “We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela… A lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea. So you get to see that. But we’re going to stop them by land also.” This firmly linked the covert operations to a broader strategy of interdicting narcotics.
These remarks mark the latest, and perhaps most aggressive, chapter in Trump’s persistent campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The long-standing animosity has seen both nations bolster military forces in the Caribbean, creating a palpable sense of a looming confrontation.
Venezuela Cries Foul, Citing Regime Change Agenda
The Maduro government swiftly condemned Trump’s comments and the authorized CIA operations, accusing the US of flagrantly violating international law and the UN Charter. In a scathing statement, Caracas asserted, “The purpose of US actions is to create legitimacy for an operation to change the regime in Venezuela, with the ultimate goal of taking control of all the country’s resources.”
Maduro himself lashed out, referencing the CIA’s controversial history in global conflicts, echoing a familiar critique of US foreign policy. “No to regime change that reminds us so much of the (overthrows) in the failed eternal wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and so on,” he declared at a televised event, drawing parallels to past US interventions.
When pressed by reporters about whether the CIA had authorization to “take out Maduro,” Trump demurred, calling it a “ridiculous question” for him to answer, but added ominously, “But I think Venezuela’s feeling heat.”
Wartime Powers and Baseless Claims
Trump’s rhetoric often veers into claims of assuming “wartime powers,” citing obscure laws like the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. He has repeatedly alleged a Venezuelan-orchestrated “invasion” of migrants and criminal groups into the US, despite his own intelligence community offering little to no proof. A declassified US report in May, for instance, found no direct evidence linking Maduro to criminal groups like Tren de Aragua, directly contradicting Trump’s assertions. Yet, on Wednesday, he revisited the baseless claim that Venezuela had sent prisoners and individuals with mental health conditions to destabilize the US.
The authorization of CIA operations is the latest in a series of secret proclamations signed by Trump, reportedly laying the groundwork for lethal action overseas despite public pronouncements of seeking global peace. Reports in August and October revealed orders allowing military action against drug-trafficking cartels and other Latin American criminal networks, even declaring a “non-international armed conflict” with these groups. While groups like Tren de Aragua have been labeled “foreign terrorist organizations,” experts caution that this label alone doesn’t provide a legal basis for military action.
Deadly Strikes in the Caribbean: “Fair Game”
The escalating rhetoric is tragically mirrored by actions in the Caribbean Sea. Since September 2, the US has conducted at least five known missile strikes on small vessels off the Venezuelan coast, resulting in 27 reported deaths. The most recent attack, revealed via a social media video Trump shared, showed a boat being consumed by fire after a missile strike, reportedly killing six.
These strikes have drawn widespread criticism from legal experts and former military officials, who contend they appear to be clear violations of international law. Drug traffickers have not traditionally been classified as “armed combatants” in a war, and the US government has yet to present public evidence to substantiate its claims that the targeted boats were indeed carrying significant narcotics bound for America.
Trump, however, has vigorously defended the strikes, arguing they save American lives from drug addiction. He has consistently maintained that those on board the targeted boats were “narco-terrorists” destined for the US. On Wednesday, he brushed aside questions about the lack of evidence and concerns about extrajudicial killings. “When they’re loaded up with drugs, they’re fair game,” Trump stated, adding, “We know we have much information about each boat that goes. Deep, strong information.” He even joked that fishermen were now avoiding the waters, framing the bombing campaign as a success.
Concluding his remarks, Trump explained a potential pivot in strategy: “We’ve almost totally stopped it by sea. Now, we’ll stop it by land.”
The authorization of covert CIA operations and the open discussion of potential land-based military actions in Venezuela represent a perilous new phase in US foreign policy. With international law concerns mounting and the Maduro government bracing for what it views as an overt attempt at regime change, the path ahead for US-Venezuela relations appears fraught with danger and unpredictable consequences.
