Information
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he had authorised the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations. The statement followed a series of US military actions targeting vessels from Venezuela in international waters, which Washington claims are being used to traffic drugs into the United States. Trump emphasised that US forces now have control over the maritime routes and are considering actions on land, suggesting increased pressure on the Venezuelan government. When questioned by reporters about whether he had ordered the CIA to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump avoided a direct answer but dismissed the question as inappropriate to respond to publicly. His administration has already offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture on drug trafficking charges.
In response, President Nicolás Maduro condemned Trump’s comments, accusing the US of attempting to overthrow his government through covert operations. In a televised address, Maduro declared his opposition to war and foreign interference, denouncing what he described as CIA-backed plots to orchestrate a coup. The Venezuelan government accused Washington of seeking regime change to gain control over the country’s substantial oil reserves.
Source: AP, Reuters, AFP
So What
The announcement is unlikely to bring about any real change, as it is almost certain that the CIA would not be waiting for public approval. Instead, it appears to be a strategic move aimed at intimidating President Maduro and pressuring his government through the threat of covert action. While it is likely that Trump wants Maduro gone, this remains unlikely; it is also unlikely that Trump will use military force to achieve this goal.
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