Trump confirms he authorised CIA action inside Venezuela
Key Takeaways
- President Trump confirmed authorizing the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela.
- The US is considering military strikes targeting drug cartels operating in or linked to Venezuela.
- Recent US strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean have killed 27 people, drawing criticism from the UN.
- Trump justified the actions by citing drug trafficking and the emptying of Venezuelan prisons into the US.
- Venezuela's government, led by President Maduro, has condemned the US actions and issued defiant warnings.
President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed reports that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations within Venezuela and is actively considering military strikes targeting drug cartels in the region. This escalation comes after US forces conducted at least five recent strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 27 deaths, actions described by UN human rights experts as "extrajudicial executions." Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump cited the influx of prisoners from Venezuela and drug trafficking via the sea as the primary reasons for the authorization. The US is also increasing its military presence, raising fears in Caracas of a potential attack, though the specifics of the CIA authorization remain unclear. Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez responded defiantly to the threats, while the US administration has previously determined it is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug-trafficking organizations, alleging Maduro's involvement with the Cartel of the Suns.
