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 is looking at land as it considers further strikes in the region, intensifying pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, who 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 would allow the CIA to operate unilaterally or as part of broader US military activity in Venezuela.
Trump specifically noted two reasons for this authorisation: the influx of Venezuelan prisoners into the United States and the drug trafficking operations stemming from Venezuela. He further suggested that the CIA's actions could extend beyond drug trafficking, hinting at more significant military objectives.
While questions remain regarding the CIA's operational plans in Venezuela, the situation has escalated with the positioning of significant air and naval resources and approximately 4,000 troops in the region as part of the military strategy against Maduro's government.
Reacting to the US strikes, Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez stood firm, voicing the resolve of the Venezuelan people against foreign aggression. The backdrop of increasing military tensions may have long-lasting implications for both domestic stability in Venezuela and international relations in the Americas.
