President Donald Trump has confirmed reports he authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela - and said he was considering strikes targeting drug cartels there.
US forces have already conducted at least five strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts have described the raids as 'extrajudicial executions'.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the US 'is looking at land' as it considers further strikes in the region.
Trump has sought to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, who the US and others do not recognise as Venezuela's rightful leader following disputed elections.
The increased US military presence in the region has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack. According to the New York Times, Trump's authorisation would allow the CIA to carry out operations in Venezuela unilaterally or as part of any wider US military activity.
It remains unknown whether the CIA is planning operations in Venezuela, or whether those plans are being kept as contingencies.
In response to questions about the CIA authorisation, Trump highlighted two main reasons for his decision: the perceived threat of criminals from Venezuela entering the US, and the influx of drugs from the region.
'We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea,' Trump stated.
The president did not confirm whether the authorisation was intended to include efforts to overthrow Maduro, who faces a $50 million bounty from the U.S.
Maduro's government has condemned the actions, and Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez has warned against any aggression, asserting the readiness of Venezuelans to defend their sovereignty.
The recent military actions, including a strike that killed six people on Tuesday, are part of a broader U.S. initiative aimed at dismantling drug-trafficking operations linked to high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
While U.S. claims paint a picture of a war against drug trafficking, the situation remains deeply complex and contentious, with accusations of human rights violations and geopolitical ramifications.
US forces have already conducted at least five strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts have described the raids as 'extrajudicial executions'.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the US 'is looking at land' as it considers further strikes in the region.
Trump has sought to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, who the US and others do not recognise as Venezuela's rightful leader following disputed elections.
The increased US military presence in the region has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack. According to the New York Times, Trump's authorisation would allow the CIA to carry out operations in Venezuela unilaterally or as part of any wider US military activity.
It remains unknown whether the CIA is planning operations in Venezuela, or whether those plans are being kept as contingencies.
In response to questions about the CIA authorisation, Trump highlighted two main reasons for his decision: the perceived threat of criminals from Venezuela entering the US, and the influx of drugs from the region.
'We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea,' Trump stated.
The president did not confirm whether the authorisation was intended to include efforts to overthrow Maduro, who faces a $50 million bounty from the U.S.
Maduro's government has condemned the actions, and Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez has warned against any aggression, asserting the readiness of Venezuelans to defend their sovereignty.
The recent military actions, including a strike that killed six people on Tuesday, are part of a broader U.S. initiative aimed at dismantling drug-trafficking operations linked to high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
While U.S. claims paint a picture of a war against drug trafficking, the situation remains deeply complex and contentious, with accusations of human rights violations and geopolitical ramifications.
