President Donald Trump has confirmed reports he authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela - and said he was considering strikes targeting drug cartels there. US forces have already conducted at least five strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts have described the raids as 'extrajudicial executions'.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stated the US was 'looking at land' for further strikes in the region. He has sought to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, whom the US does not recognize as Venezuela's rightful leader following disputed elections. The increased US military presence in the region has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack.
According to the New York Times, Trump's authorisation allows the CIA to execute operations in Venezuela independently or as part of broader US military actions. It remains unclear if the CIA has concrete plans for operations in Venezuela or if these exist merely as contingencies.
When asked why he authorized CIA intervention, Trump cited concerns about drug trafficking and the influx of Venezuelan criminals into the US, stating, 'They have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.'
While Trump declined to comment on whether the CIA's mandate could lead to efforts to topple Maduro, the situation remains tense as the Venezuelan government reacts defiantly to the US's escalating measures against drug trafficking. As the US continues its military campaigns, Maduro's administration has condemned these actions, stoking further anxieties regarding potential military confrontation.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stated the US was 'looking at land' for further strikes in the region. He has sought to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, whom the US does not recognize as Venezuela's rightful leader following disputed elections. The increased US military presence in the region has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack.
According to the New York Times, Trump's authorisation allows the CIA to execute operations in Venezuela independently or as part of broader US military actions. It remains unclear if the CIA has concrete plans for operations in Venezuela or if these exist merely as contingencies.
When asked why he authorized CIA intervention, Trump cited concerns about drug trafficking and the influx of Venezuelan criminals into the US, stating, 'They have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.'
While Trump declined to comment on whether the CIA's mandate could lead to efforts to topple Maduro, the situation remains tense as the Venezuelan government reacts defiantly to the US's escalating measures against drug trafficking. As the US continues its military campaigns, Maduro's administration has condemned these actions, stoking further anxieties regarding potential military confrontation.
