Trump Confirms CIA Covert Operations Inside Venezuela/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump confirmed the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela. He justified the move as a response to drug trafficking and prisoner releases. Critics warn the actions bypass Congress and risk wider conflict in Latin America.
CIA Venezuela Operations + Quick Looks
- Trump confirms CIA covert actions targeting Venezuela operations.
- Justifies action due to Venezuelan drug trafficking and prison releases.
- Maduro denounces the CIA’s long history of regime change.
- Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry condemns the statement as a violation of international law.
- Congress voices concern over lack of transparency and legal oversight.
- Trump hints at land operations but offers no proof of drug smuggling.
- Human rights groups call the strikes potential extrajudicial killings.
Trump Confirms CIA Covert Operations Inside Venezuela
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — In a rare public confirmation of covert activity, President Donald Trump on Wednesday admitted that he authorized the CIA to conduct operations inside Venezuela. The president further suggested that land-based military actions may follow, dramatically escalating tensions in the region and drawing backlash from Venezuelan leadership and U.S. lawmakers alike.
The announcement came during an Oval Office event where Trump cited two main reasons for his decision: Venezuela’s alleged release of prisoners into the U.S. and a surge in drug trafficking via the Caribbean.
“I authorized for two reasons,” Trump said. “First, they’ve emptied their prisons into the United States. Second, the drugs — a lot are coming in from Venezuela, particularly by sea.”
Trump’s statement follows a recent wave of U.S. military actions in the Caribbean. Since early September, American forces have launched deadly strikes against boats believed to be smuggling narcotics, destroying at least five vessels and killing 27 individuals — most of them reportedly linked to Venezuela.
While the president did not confirm whether Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a direct target, he acknowledged the CIA has broad authorization to operate in the region.
Maduro Pushes Back Against U.S. Operations
President Maduro reacted strongly but indirectly, condemning what he described as the CIA’s historical pattern of orchestrating coups and destabilizing governments throughout Latin America.
“No to regime change,” Maduro said in a televised address. “It reminds us of the eternal wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and others. Latin America doesn’t want the CIA’s coups. We repudiate them.”
Referencing past CIA-backed events like Argentina’s Dirty War and Chile’s 1973 coup, Maduro added, “How long will the CIA keep doing this?”
He concluded with a plea for peace — even switching to English to appeal to Americans: “Not war, yes peace… The people of the United States, please.”
Venezuela’s Government Condemns Trump’s Remarks
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement calling Trump’s admission an “unprecedented and grave violation of international law.”
Foreign Minister Yván Gil, via Telegram, said the actions violate the United Nations Charter and urged other nations to denounce the U.S. position.
“These extravagant statements openly threaten the peace and stability of Venezuela,” the statement read.
U.S. Lawmakers Sound Alarms Over Escalation
Trump’s acknowledgment of CIA activity and the suggestion of further strikes has sparked bipartisan concern in Congress, particularly over the administration’s lack of transparency.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration reclassified drug cartels as “unlawful combatants,” effectively declaring an armed conflict against them. The designation has since been used to justify military strikes without seeking approval from Congress.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the approach.
“The U.S. is sliding toward outright conflict without guardrails,” she warned. “The American people deserve transparency on whether we’re heading toward regime change or war.”
Lawmakers say they’ve yet to see hard evidence that the targeted boats were smuggling narcotics. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have shared unverified video clips of the strikes on social media, but no official classified intelligence has been provided to Congress, according to U.S. officials.
Questions Over Legality and Military Strategy
While the U.S. Coast Guard continues its traditional mission of intercepting vessels and seizing drugs, the Pentagon has shifted toward more aggressive tactics. Trump defended this shift as a necessary escalation.
“We’ve been seizing boats for 30 years — it hasn’t worked,” he said. “They have world-class speedboats, but they’re not faster than missiles.”
Human rights groups and international observers have expressed concern that these actions may qualify as extrajudicial killings and violate both domestic and international legal norms.
What Comes Next?
With Trump floating the possibility of land operations and the CIA already active in Venezuela, the U.S. appears to be deepening its involvement in Latin America’s political and security landscape. As criticism mounts both at home and abroad, the question remains whether the administration will seek Congressional approval or continue down a unilateral path.
For now, Trump remains resolute, suggesting that conventional tactics have failed and a stronger approach is necessary to stop drugs and criminal activity at the source.
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