Trump says he authorized CIA in Venezuela while Maduro says ‘no to regime change’

US President Donald Trump has confirmed a report that he authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, sparking outrage from the South American leader.

US forces have already carried out at least five strikes against boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts have called the raids “extrajudicial executions.”

Speaking at the White House, Trump said the United States was “looking for land” as it considers further strikes against drug cartels in the region.

Nicolás Maduro, whose legitimacy as Venezuela’s president is contested internationally after last year’s disputed elections, called on television for peace with the United States.

He addressed the “people of the United States,” saying “no war, but peace.”

The increased American military presence in the region has Caracas fearing a possible attack. There are reportedly around 10,000 U.S. forces deployed in the Caribbean, either on ships or in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.

According to the New York Times, Trump’s authorization would allow the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela unilaterally or as part of any broader U.S. military activity.

It remains unclear whether the CIA is planning operations in Venezuela or whether those plans are being kept in case of emergency, but the spy agency has a long history of activity in South America.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump was asked about the New York Times report.

“Why did you allow the CIA into Venezuela?” » asked a journalist.

“I actually authorized it for two reasons,” Trump said in a highly unusual acknowledgment from a U.S. commander in chief of an intelligence organization whose activities are generally shrouded in secrecy.

“First, they (Venezuela) emptied their prisons to the United States of America.”

He added: “And the other thing is drugs. We have a lot of drugs coming from Venezuela, and a lot of Venezuelan drugs are coming by sea, so you can see that, but we’re going to stop them by land as well.”

Venezuela plays a relatively minor role in the region’s drug trade. The president would not question whether the CIA’s aim was to overthrow Maduro, for whom the US offered a $50m (£37m) bounty.

“Wouldn’t that be a ridiculous question for me to answer?” he said.

In the latest US strike on Tuesday, six people were killed when a boat was targeted near the coast of Venezuela.

On Truth Social, Trump said that “intelligence confirmed that the vessel was trafficking narcotics, associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and transiting a known DTO (drug trafficking organization) drug trafficking route.”

As has been the case in previous strikes, U.S. authorities have not said which drug trafficking organization was allegedly operating the ship, or the identities of the people on board.

Maduro spoke on Wednesday evening to warn of an escalation.

“No to regime change, which reminds us so much of the endless and failed wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, etc.,” declared the socialist leader.

“No to coups orchestrated by the CIA.”

He added: “Listen to me, not war, but peace, the people of the United States.”

Earlier in the day, Maduro ordered military exercises in the Caracas suburb of Petare and neighboring Miranda state on Wednesday.

In a message on Telegram, he said he was mobilizing the army, police and civilian militias to defend the oil-rich country.

Foreign Minister Yván Gil said on Telegram that Venezuela “rejects the hawkish and extravagant statements of the President of the United States.”

“We view with extreme concern the use of the CIA, as well as the military deployments announced in the Caribbean, which constitute a policy of aggression, threat and harassment against Venezuela,” he added.

Trump has deployed eight warships, a nuclear submarine and fighter jets to the Caribbean in what the White House sees as an effort to crack down on drug trafficking.

In a recently leaked memo sent to US lawmakers, the Trump administration said it had determined it was involved in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug trafficking organizations.

U.S. officials have claimed that Maduro himself is part of an organization called the Cartel of the Suns, which they say includes senior Venezuelan military and security officials involved in drug trafficking. Maduro has denied these claims.

Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and deputy assistant secretary of defense, told the BBC: “To carry out covert action, there has to be a presidential decision specifically authorizing the CIA, with specific actions identified. »

Mulroy added that such a finding would mark a “substantial increase” in efforts against drug trafficking organizations.

“Maybe a real ‘Sicario,'” he said, referring to a 2015 film that shows U.S. agents launching clandestine operations against drug cartels in Mexico.

Additional reporting by Ione Wells