Why Did Trump Authorise CIA Covert Ops In Venezuela? Here’s What He Said

President Donald Trump confirmed that he had personally authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, citing drug trafficking and illegal migration as key reasons. “I authorized it for two reasons,” Trump said at the White House. “We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela,” he added, also accusing the Maduro regime of “emptying their prisons into the United States of America.”This confirmation follows a report by The New York Times revealing that the Trump administration granted the CIA sweeping new authority, known as a presidential finding, to carry out covert and even lethal operations targeting Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The powers also cover broader actions throughout the Caribbean, potentially as part of a larger military operation. While it remains unclear whether any specific missions are underway, the authorization marks a significant escalation.The US military has already struck at least six boats in the southern Caribbean since early September, claiming they were transporting drugs. These actions have raised tensions with Venezuela and fueled speculation that a ground operation may be under consideration. Trump dismissed a question on whether the CIA was permitted to “take out” Maduro, saying only, “Wouldn’t it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?”In August, the U.S. deployed warships to the region and offered $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on charges of “narco-terrorism.” Trump has also recently ended diplomatic talks with Venezuela, signaling a shift toward more hardline measures favored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Related News | Two B-52 Aircraft Reportedly Heading Towards Venezuela, Is US Planning Another Strike? Speculation GrowsMounting Pressure on MaduroAs part of the wider pressure campaign, approximately 10,000 U.S. troops are now stationed in the region, mainly in Puerto Rico, with additional forces aboard amphibious assault ships, eight Navy warships, and a submarine in the Caribbean. Military planners are reportedly drafting options for potential strikes inside Venezuela should Trump choose to escalate further.