WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, in what analysts describe as a significant escalation of US efforts to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power.
The revelation came after The New York Times reported that Trump had issued a classified directive empowering the CIA to undertake lethal and intelligence operations across Venezuela and parts of the Caribbean. The report cited senior US officials familiar with the administration’s Venezuela strategy.
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When asked by reporters about the decision, Trump said he authorized the CIA operations due to the “migration of Venezuelans” into the United States and concerns over “drug trafficking.” “They have emptied their prisons into the United States of America… they came in because we had an open border,” Trump claimed, offering no evidence to support the assertion.
The Trump administration has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges, part of a broader pressure campaign that includes sanctions and military actions in the region.
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President Trump confirms reports that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s regime https://t.co/oRfumD3eFu pic.twitter.com/iZeME55qG7
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 16, 2025
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While Trump did not elaborate on the extent of the CIA’s new powers, reports indicate the directive allows for lethal action and expanded surveillance. Historically, the CIA has engaged in both direct and indirect interventions in Latin America — from orchestrating coups during the Cold War to combating cocaine cartels in the late 20th century.
The White House declined to comment on operational specifics, and Reuters could not independently verify what actions had been authorized.
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Venezuela’s government condemned Trump’s remarks as a “flagrant violation of international law”, accusing Washington of pursuing a “regime change operation” to seize control of the country’s oil reserves.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil announced that Venezuela’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations will file a formal complaint with the UN Security Council and Secretary-General António Guterres, demanding accountability from the US government. “This is a clear admission of interference and aggression,” the Venezuelan statement read.
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Trump’s comments follow reports of increased US military activity in the southern Caribbean, where US forces have allegedly conducted several strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking. The Pentagon later informed Congress that Trump has declared the US to be engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with transnational drug cartels.
Asked if the CIA had been authorized to target Maduro personally, Trump replied ambiguously: “I think Venezuela is feeling heat.”
Analysts say Trump’s remarks reflect a willingness to blur lines between counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and regime-change operations — reviving controversial tactics not seen since the Cold War era.
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Trump’s move has drawn concern from lawmakers in Washington. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that the president’s actions risk dragging the US into another conflict. “The American people deserve to know if the administration is leading the US into another war or pursuing a regime-change operation,” she said.
With relations between Washington and Caracas already at historic lows, Trump’s confirmation of CIA involvement threatens to further inflame tensions — setting the stage for a new phase in the long-running confrontation between the two nations.