U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela. At the same time, he has indicated that he is considering a possible military intervention in the country under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. However, Trump did not give a direct answer when asked whether his administration was planning to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Since the start of his second term, relations between the Trump administration and Venezuela have deteriorated rapidly. Trump has repeatedly labeled Venezuela a “source of threat”—citing issues such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He even hinted at invoking wartime powers similar to the 18th-century “Foreign Enemies Act.”
However, no credible evidence has been found to support Trump’s claims. According to recent reports from U.S. intelligence agencies, there is no proof that the Maduro administration is directly linked to any criminal organization. A report published in May by intelligence officials stated that there was no information suggesting Maduro’s connection with the notorious criminal group “Tren de Aragua.”
Despite this, Trump continued to insist that “Venezuela is sending prisoners and mentally ill individuals to the United States,” claiming that “many other countries have done so—but none as disgracefully as Venezuela.”
Analysts believe that the CIA operation in Venezuela is part of a broader pattern of covert actions by the Trump administration. Earlier in August, U.S. sources reported that Trump had ordered military operations against drug cartels and criminal networks in Latin America. In October, a document sent to Congress stated that the United States is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with these groups, and that their members have been designated as “unlawful combatants.”
According to observers, while Trump publicly promotes peace, his administration’s actions signal a new phase of military tension in Latin America.
Source: Al Jazeera