Trump administration authorizes covert CIA operations in Venezuela

The Trump administration has secretly authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, targeting the government of Nicolás Maduro. According to U.S. officials, the new directive grants the agency authority to carry out lethal operations and coordinate with the military as part of Washington’s intensified campaign to remove Maduro from power.

Source The New York Times

U.S. military forces have increased their presence in the Caribbean, with about 10,000 troops stationed in the region and naval assets deployed nearby. The new CIA authorization, described as a “presidential finding,” enables a range of covert actions, including intelligence operations, propaganda efforts, and potential strikes inside Venezuela.

The move reflects the administration’s growing frustration with Maduro’s refusal to relinquish power and Washington’s broader strategy in Latin America. While the CIA has previously collaborated with regional governments on counter-narcotics efforts, this marks one of its most direct authorizations for political interference in the region since the Cold War. Maduro’s government condemned the move as an act of “imperialist aggression.”