Trump Authorises CIA for Secret Operations as US Targets Venezuela

Caracas: The United States has openly signalled a new chapter in its long history of intervention in Latin America. President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, signalling a direct challenge to the country’s sovereignty. He also hinted at the possibility of land operations, escalating a campaign that has already seen U.S. forces destroy boats in the Caribbean, allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

Trump justified the strikes by pointing to Venezuelan migration into the United States and the maritime drug trade, claiming traditional law enforcement had failed. Critics, however, see the move as a thinly veiled attempt to destabilise the Venezuelan government and assert U.S. dominance in the region—a continuation of a pattern that stretches back decades, from Guatemala and Cuba to Chile and Brazil.

Venezuela reacted swiftly and firmly. Its government condemned the statements as “warmongering” and a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Officials emphasised that the CIA authorisation, reportedly aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro, represents a direct threat to national sovereignty and regional stability.

The US has bolstered its presence in the Caribbean with approximately 10,000 troops, eight surface warships, and a nuclear submarine, reflecting an unprecedented military posture. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has signalled a more aggressive operational approach, aligned with Trump’s willingness to wield all instruments of American power to achieve geopolitical goals.

Venezuela has taken its grievances to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and plans to raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council. Its officials have called for accountability from Washington and urgent international action to prevent further escalation, warning that impunity could have serious political consequences.

By presenting migration and narcotics as pretexts for military action, the United States is pursuing a strategy of intervention and regime pressure that threatens regional stability. Venezuela’s response, firm, organised, and rooted in historical experience, underscores its determination to resist external coercion and defend sovereignty against the recurring ambitions of U.S. power.