DONALD Trump has given the CIA the go-ahead to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela.
The move is a major escalation against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
The authorization allows the CIA to take “covert action” on its own or as part of a wider military effort.
Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday that he “authorized” the CIA operations because Venezuela “emptied their prisons into the United States of America” and flooded the country with drugs.
It is not clear whether any missions are currently underway, or if the powers are intended primarily as a contingency.
But on Wednesday US Air Force Stratofortress bombers were flying off the coast of the country.
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Trump also told reporters that defense officials are now “looking at land” strikes.
The decision marks a shift from sanctions and diplomacy to secret intelligence actions.
Last month, the administration formally declared that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
The president has labelled cartel members “unlawful combatants,” according to a confidential notice sent to Congress.
The declaration invokes extraordinary wartime powers, giving Trump wide authority to strike at narcotics traffickers.
These powers have already been used to authorize five missile strikes targeting “narcoterrorist” boats off the coast of Venezuela.
Trump claims at least 27 people have been killed in recent weeks in the bombings which he shared to social media.
The CIA authorization is the latest step in an intensifying pressure campaign against Maduro.
American officials have privately said the ultimate goal is to drive Maduro from power.
The new authority allows the CIA to conduct lethal operations, as well as a range of covert activities throughout the Caribbean.
The agency can act against Maduro or his officials either alone or alongside U.S. military forces.
Officials emphasize that the move is both preventative and operational -giving the intelligence agency the flexibility to act if necessary.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing its own potential escalation, drawing up options for Trump to consider, including strikes inside Venezuelan territory.
About 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed nearby, mostly in Puerto Rico, alongside a contingent of Marines aboard assault ships.
In total, the U.S. Navy has eight surface warships and a submarine deployed across the Caribbean.
The CIA authorization comes in the form of a “presidential finding,” a highly classified order described by multiple U.S. officials speaking anonymously.
Trump recently ordered a halt to all diplomatic talks with the Maduro government.
The decision followed frustration with Maduro’s refusal to voluntarily step aside, as well as ongoing U.S. allegations that his officials are involved in drug trafficking.
Historically, the CIA has worked with Latin American governments on intelligence and security matters, including targeting Mexican drug cartels.
However, prior authorizations did not permit the agency to carry out direct lethal operations.
Under the new order, the CIA has broader powers to act directly, including lethal measures if deemed necessary.
Trump’s Venezuela strategy was developed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Rubio has consistently labeled Maduro illegitimate, describing him as a “narcoterrorist.”
The U.S. government has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest and conviction on drug trafficking charges.
Ratcliffe has publicly pledged to make the CIA more aggressive.
During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe said the agency under his leadership would be “less averse to risk and more willing to conduct covert action when ordered by the president, going places no one else can go and doing things no one else can do.”
The White House and the CIA have declined to comment further on the operations.
Tensions have also been heightened by Trump’s decision to cut all diplomatic contact with Venezuela.
According to reports, the president personally instructed envoy Richard Grenell to end communications with Maduro.
Trump reportedly phoned Grenell during a meeting with top military leaders, giving the “blunt directive” to halt diplomacy.
Officials told the New York Times the move reflected Trump’s frustration with Maduro’s refusal to relinquish power and alleged protection of drug traffickers.
In September, Maduro wrote to Trump denying that Venezuela trafficked drugs and offered to continue negotiations through Grenell.
Trump rejected the offer and shut the door on diplomacy, signaling a clear path toward potential military escalation.
In a recent Oval Office briefing, Trump told lawmakers the U.S. is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
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The rare legal declaration grants him sweeping wartime powers to strike, kill, and detain cartel fighters without trial.
With CIA covert powers and military forces already active in the region, Trump has positioned the U.S. for a possible major escalation both at sea and on land.
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