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On October 15, 2025, US President Donald Trump publicly confirmed that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.
This unusual admission followed a New York Times report that revealed a secret presidential finding that allows the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and broader activities in the Caribbean, either independently or in conjunction with US military forces.
The authorization is part of a growing US pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the Trump administration describes as a “narco-terrorist” involved in drug trafficking and criminal activities.
Trump stated that the decision was due to two main factors: claims that Venezuela has “emptied its prisons” by sending criminals and people with mental health problems to the United States, exacerbating immigration and crime problems; and the influx of drugs from Venezuela, primarily by sea, with plans to extend interdiction to land-based activities.
However, these claims are controversial. A declassified US intelligence report from May 2025 found no direct links between Maduro and groups like the Tren de Aragua gang, contradicting the government’s claims.
The CIA’s new authority builds on existing counternarcotics operations but represents a significant expansion, allowing for previously restricted aggressive actions.
It coincides with a significant US military buildup in the region, including approximately 10,000 troops (primarily in Puerto Rico), Marines on amphibious ships, Navy warships, and a submarine in the Caribbean. Trump has also invoked wartime powers, such as declaring a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels designated as “unlawful combatants,” to justify attacks without full congressional approval.
The authorization and related US actions have already led to tangible escalations and broader ramifications.
Since early September 2025, US forces have carried out at least five missile attacks against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, killing 27 people, including six in the most recent attack on October 14.
Trump has shared videos of these attacks on social media, claiming they are aimed at “narco-terrorists” and have virtually halted maritime drug trafficking. However, no hard evidence has been presented to Congress or the public to prove the vessels were carrying narcotics, raising questions about transparency.
UN-appointed human rights experts have described the attacks on vessels as “extrajudicial killings,” which could violate international law, as drug traffickers are not typically considered combatants in an armed conflict.
Legal experts argue that the government’s justifications are thin and that the actions could constitute unlawful killings.
Nationally, bipartisan frustration in Congress has mounted over the lack of oversight, with lawmakers like Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) warning that unilateral decisions risk dragging the United States into open conflict without authorization.
These measures have heightened fears of a wider war in the Caribbean and South America. Venezuela has reinforced its military presence along the coast, and activists warn of potential regional repercussions, including impacts on neighboring countries like Colombia.
Trump’s hints about ground attacks could signal a shift in maritime operations, further escalating the standoff.
The campaign aligns with Trump’s narrative of an “invasion” from Venezuela but has drawn criticism for circumventing Congress and relying on discredited claims. It sets a precedent for executive overreach in foreign policy, which could complicate future administrations.
Overall, these actions have brought U.S.-Venezuela relations to a breaking point, with immediate human costs and long-term risks of instability, although Trump claims they have saved American lives by stemming the flow of drugs.
Maduro has vehemently opposed the US escalation, presenting it as an imperialist threat. On October 15, 2025, during a televised event at the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace in Caracas, he rejected “regime change” and criticized the CIA’s record of coups in Latin America, citing examples such as the 1973 overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile, the 1976 Argentine dictatorship (which led to 30,000 disappearances), and the US interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. He declared: “No to CIA coups” and emphasized that “Latin America does not want them, does not need them, and repudiates them.”
Maduro appealed directly to the American people in English: “No war, yes peace… Please, please, please,” urging them to remain “alert to avoid a war in the Caribbean and South America.”
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned Trump’s statements as a “grave violation of international law and the United Nations Charter” and urged the international community to denounce them.
Domestically, Maduro has mobilized militias, reinforced coastal defenses, and formed the National Council to unite political and civil sectors in promoting peace and sovereignty. He has denied US accusations of involvement in drug trafficking and described the actions as a “war on drugs for regime change.”
The CIA authorization granted by Trump appears aimed at overthrowing Maduro through a combination of covert operations, military strikes, and economic pressure, including a $50 million bounty on Maduro.
However, the lack of evidence to support the main US claims, coupled with historical precedents for CIA interventions that have led to prolonged instability (e.g., Guatemala 1954, Cuba 1961, Chile 1973), suggests a high risk of failure or retaliation.
The strategy may deter some trafficking, but it has already caused civilian deaths and diplomatic consequences, potentially galvanizing Latin American opposition to US “gunboat diplomacy.”
Maduro’s responses emphasize peace while preparing defenses, positioning Venezuela as a victim of aggression to garner regional support. As of October 16, 2025, the situation remains volatile, with no clear resolution, but with a clear trajectory toward further confrontation unless de-escalation occurs.
Public reactions on platforms like X reflect polarization: some praise Trump’s firmness and others criticize it as reckless imperialism
