President Donald Trump has confirmed reports he authorized 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 recognize 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 authorization 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. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was questioned about the New York Times report.
'Why did you authorize the CIA to go into Venezuela?' a reporter asked. Trump admitted to authorizing CIA actions primarily due to the flow of drugs and the release of prisoners from Venezuelan jails into the US.
While Maduro's government has not commented on the CIA authorization directly, officials in Venezuela have expressed defiance against potential aggression.
In summary, the series of strikes and heightened military readiness reflect an escalating U.S. strategy aimed at undermining Maduro's regime, amidst ongoing allegations of drug trafficking and human rights violations.
