In a bold move that could potentially destabilize the leadership of Venezuela, President Donald Trump reportedly gave the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) the green light to initiate operations that could culminate in the overthrow of Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro.
Trump's authorization came in the form of a covert "finding," a document that empowers the CIA to conduct aggressive operations against Maduro's regime and its alleged narcotics network. While the document does not explicitly order a regime change, it does provide the CIA with the latitude to take actions that could "lead to that outcome," as disclosed by U.S. officials to the Post.
As reported by Newsmax, the White House was approached for comments on the report. In response, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stated, "We would never comment on matters on intelligence, but President Trump has been clear that he is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice."
This development coincides with a significant escalation of U.S. military activity in the Caribbean. The region has seen the deployment of numerous warships, aircraft, and thousands of troops as part of what Trump has termed an "armed conflict" against international drug traffickers. U.S. airstrikes have already obliterated several boats in international waters, which Trump claimed were smuggling drugs from Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of dozens of suspected traffickers.
Trump justified his actions, stating, "I authorized it for two reasons. Venezuela was the worst abuser of open-border policies under Biden sending prisoners and the mentally ill into our country. The other thing is drugs. We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela." When questioned about his approval of efforts to "take out" Maduro, Trump responded, "That would be a ridiculous question for me to answer. But I think Venezuela is feeling the heat."
The president's actions, according to White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, are targeted at "narcoterrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores," and Trump "will continue to use every element of American power" to halt drug trafficking.
The Post's sources revealed that the CIA has surged personnel into the region to gather intelligence. Concurrently, the Pentagon has relocated special operations units, including the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to Caribbean staging areas. These operations aim to fracture Venezuela's military and pressure Maduro to step down, though they could expand into limited land strikes on trafficker sites within Venezuelan territory.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been supervising the broader campaign, which initially started as a counternarcotics effort but has evolved into an attempt to force Maduro's removal. Rubio, a staunch critic of Maduro, has coordinated the effort alongside senior Trump aides Stephen Miller, Susie Wiles, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi recently increased the U.S. bounty on Maduro to $50 million, labeling him "a narco-terrorist and fugitive from American justice."
In a show of force, the Pentagon has stationed eight Navy warships, an attack submarine, and advanced aircraft including F-35B fighters, P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance planes, and MQ-9 Reaper drones in the Caribbean. Nuclear-capable B-52 bombers have also conducted surveillance flights near Venezuelan territory.
In retaliation, Maduro has mobilized troops and claimed to have enlisted millions of civilians into militias. Venezuelan state media has broadcast videos of older citizens training with rifles, while Maduro warned that "the people are ready for combat." However, military experts argue that Venezuela's armed forces are weakened by corruption, poor logistics, and low morale.
Despite the bluster, many observers perceive Trump's escalation as a calculated bid to pressure the regime rather than launch a full-scale invasion. Yet, former U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon warned that the administration's lack of transparency risks sliding the country into another open-ended conflict. "If it's just drug trafficking, fine," Shannon told the Post. "But there's an intimidation message here and when you authorize covert action inside Venezuela, you're taking this to a place where there's no easy way back."
This move by the Trump administration, while controversial, underscores the commitment to using all available resources to combat drug trafficking and uphold the security of the nation. However, it also raises questions about the potential for unintended consequences and the need for transparency in such covert operations.
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