US President Donald Trump confirmed reports that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela and said he was considering attacks targeting the country’s drug cartels.
The U.S. military has carried out at least five attacks on ships suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts described the raids as “extrajudicial executions.”
“The United States is reviewing the land as it considers additional attacks in this region,” President Trump said at the White House.
Trump has sought to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, whom the United States and other countries do not recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, following the disputed election.
The growing U.S. military presence in the region has raised concerns in Caracas about possible attacks.
According to the New York Times, President Trump’s approval allows the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela either unilaterally or as part of a broader U.S. military effort.
It is not yet known whether the CIA is planning operations in Venezuela, or whether such plans are being maintained on a state of emergency basis.
On Wednesday, President Trump met with reporters in the Oval Office along with FBI Director Cash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi and took questions about the New York Times report.
“Why did you approve the CIA’s entry into Venezuela?” the reporter asked.
“I gave my approval for two reasons,” Trump said, a highly unusual admission by the U.S. commander in chief for a spy agency whose activities are generally shrouded in secrecy.
“First, they (Venezuela) emptied their prisons into the United States.”
He added, “And the other thing is drugs. A lot of drugs are coming in from Venezuela, a lot of Venezuelan drugs are coming in by sea, so as you can see, we’re going to stop that on land as well.”
The president refused to answer when asked whether the United States could oust Maduro with the approval of the CIA, which has offered a $50 million (£37 million) bounty.
“Isn’t that a ridiculous question for me to answer?” he said
The most recent U.S. airstrike on Tuesday targeted a boat near the Venezuelan coast, killing six people.
“Intelligence officials have determined that the vessel is trafficking drugs, is associated with an illegal narco-terrorism network, and is traveling along known drug trafficking routes,” Trump said on Truth Social.
As has been the case in previous strikes, U.S. officials did not specifically identify the drug trafficking organization known to operate the vessel or the identity of its occupants.
Maduro on Wednesday ordered military exercises in the Caracas suburb of Petare and the nearby Miranda state.
In a Telegram message, he said he was mobilizing the military, police and civilian militias to defend Venezuela and achieve a “peaceful victory.”
The socialist leader accused the United States of plotting regime change following accusations that it rigged the South American country’s presidential election last year.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez also appeared on television Wednesday and struck a defiant tone.
He said, “Do not let the invaders dare, because we know that here are the people of (Simon, Liberator of Venezuela) Bolivar, the people of our ancestors who will take up their swords to protect us in any situation.”
AFP reported that Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the United States of plotting to rob the oil-producing country of its vast natural resources.
President Trump deployed eight warships, nuclear submarines, and fighter jets to the Caribbean as part of an effort to crack down on drug smuggling.
In a recently leaked memo to U.S. lawmakers, the administration said it had determined the drug trafficking organization was involved in a “non-international armed conflict.”
U.S. officials have claimed that Maduro himself is a member of a group called the Cartel of the Sun, which they say includes senior Venezuelan military and security officials involved in drug trafficking. Maduro has denied these claims.
(With additional reporting by Ione Wells)
