US President Donald Trump has articulated his approval of covert actions by the CIA targeting Venezuela, concurrently contemplating potential strikes against drug cartels operating within the South American nation. These remarks on Wednesday have incited backlash from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who criticized the United States for its history of CIA-led coups and has mobilized military forces in response to recent US military actions in the region.
Trump’s acknowledgment follows a report by the New York Times suggesting that he had authorized covert operations against Maduro’s regime. While he refrained from confirming specifics, he reiterated accusations against Maduro, labeling his government a “narco-terrorist” regime and alleging that it has released prisoners to threaten the United States.
When probed about whether he had granted the CIA permission to eliminate Maduro, Trump sidestepped a direct answer, classifying the question as inappropriate while maintaining it was not unreasonable. He further stated the consideration of expanding US military operations against Venezuelan drug cartels on land after a series of naval strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels. With at least 27 fatalities reported from these US air and sea operations, questions regarding the legal parameters of using lethal force against suspects in foreign waters have emerged.
The backdrop to Trump’s comments includes a significant build-up of US naval forces in the Caribbean, which officials describe as part of a broader anti-drug initiative. However, these military maneuvers have sparked concern throughout Latin America, with Maduro openly denouncing US intentions as veiled attempts for regime change in Venezuela. He called for resistance against what he labeled as “war in the Caribbean” and “CIA orchestrated coups,” rallying support during an address responding to the deployment of US warships.
In light of recent US strikes that purportedly eliminated several “narco-terrorists,” Maduro has ordered military maneuvers, particularly concentrated in Venezuela’s largest informal settlements and along the country’s Atlantic Caribbean coast. The Venezuelan leader expressed his commitment to mobilize the military, police, and civilian militias to safeguard various aspects of national infrastructure.
Amid escalating tensions, Trump has doubled the bounty on Maduro’s head to $50 million, intensifying pressure on the beleaguered president, who has steadfastly denied allegations of drug trafficking. While Trump has previously claimed he does not seek regime change in Venezuela, he continues to assert that Maduro’s election last year was marred by illegitimacy.
Compounding this fraught atmosphere, US-backed opposition leader María Corina Machado recently garnered the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts against Maduro’s rule, an acknowledgment Machado has publicly dedicated to Trump. This recent accolade adds another dimension to the ongoing political struggle in Venezuela, with international observers closely monitoring the escalating situation.
