The President of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed this Wednesday (15) that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out secret operations in Venezuela.
The statement was made during a press conference at the White House, in which the Republican stated that there are “several reasons” for allowing American agency missions in Venezuelan territory. According to him, the main justification would be to contain the flow of drugs and traffickers crossing the border towards the United States.
Trump stated that “a lot of drugs come from Venezuela, and many of them come by sea”, adding that his government also intends to prevent trafficking by land. The speech took place in the Oval Office, in front of journalists, and represented public confirmation of information that had already been released by the North American press.
Despite the incisive tone, the president avoided mentioning that the objective of the operation would be an attempt to change the regime. Trump limited himself to saying that Venezuelan leaders “are under pressure” and that his government will continue to take measures “to protect the country”.
“I think Venezuela is under pressure. But I think many other countries are also suffering. We are not going to let this country, our country, be ruined because other people want to get rid of, as you say, the worst of it,” the president said, referring to unfounded allegations that neighboring countries were sending criminals and people with mental health problems to the United States.
The authorization given to the CIA marks yet another escalation in tensions between Washington and the government of Nicolás Maduro. Relations between the two countries had already been deteriorating since 2019, when the United States recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.
The New York Times was the first to report the existence of the new executive order, citing several American officials. According to the report, CIA operations may include “lethal actions” and other intelligence initiatives aimed at weakening the power of the Venezuelan regime.
There is still no clarity on when the missions will be carried out or what their specific targets will be. Intelligence sources interviewed by the American press said that, so far, it has not been revealed whether any operation is already underway.
The decision is part of a series of measures adopted by Trump to toughen the fight against drug trafficking in Latin America. According to sources consulted by CNN, the president would have changed the CIA’s authority in the same period in which he signed a secret directive authorizing the military to attack Latin American drug cartels.
The initiative also coincides with an increase in tensions in the Caribbean region. In recent weeks, Venezuela announced the activation of defense zones in the capital Caracas, in response to what it called “external threats” coming from the United States.
In previous statements, the Venezuelan government had accused Washington of promoting a “destabilization campaign” against the country. Maduro has repeatedly stated that US sanctions and actions are part of an attempt to weaken his government.
Trump’s announcement reignites the debate about the role of the United States in intelligence operations outside American territory. Although the president highlighted the drug issue as his main justification, analysts say the measure reinforces political pressure on Caracas.
With official confirmation, the Trump administration continues a foreign policy marked by direct and unconventional actions in Latin America. The authorization for CIA secret operations in Venezuela adds to a series of previous initiatives that highlight Washington’s effort to contain the influence of the Nicolás Maduro regime in the region.
