The Government of Donald Trump has authorized the CIA to carry out covert actions inside Venezuela, according to the newspaper published this Wednesday The New York Times. The step is made known when the president of the United States increases pressure on the Andean country and President Nicolás Maduro with a campaign of those he accuses of participating in drug trafficking and after he has mentioned a “phase two” of his plans that could involve ground actions.
The authorization would allow the CIA to carry out a series of missions in Caribbean waters, the newspaper maintains, citing senior US officials.
The measure represents a new step in the United States campaign against Venezuela and its regime, which Washington denounces as illegitimate and links to drug trafficking networks. This same Tuesday, Trump announced on his social networks a new attack by the military ships he has deployed in the Caribbean against an alleged drug boat, in a coup in which the six occupants of the boat died.
Since September 2, when the president announced the first attack, the United States has suffered as many blows, in which at least 27 people have died. Washington argues that it needs this type of measure to protect national security. But experts and human rights organizations consider these attacks illegal and wonder why the United States does not limit itself to intercepting suspicious ships and interrogating their crew members, as has been done traditionally and continues to be done on other routes where drug trafficking is greater; The US Coast Guard operates, for example, in the vicinity of Ecuador with this type of mission.
The State Department has doubled to $50 million [unos 43 millones de euros] The reward for the capture of Maduro, whom he accuses of being one of the leaders of the country, has included the Tren de Aragua criminal gang since February on the list of foreign terrorist organizations. The Pentagon has informed Congress that Trump believes that the United States is in an armed conflict against drug trafficking.
As explained by Timesthe new authorization would allow the CIA to carry out covert operations, either alone or in coordination with military forces, against Maduro or his Government. The newspaper clarifies that it is unknown if the CIA plans to carry out any type of operation inside Venezuela or if the permit has been approved only as a contingency measure.
The authorization comes to light as US forces develop plans for possible escalation. The options they present to Trump include possible attacks inside Venezuela.
At the moment, the United States has a flotilla of eight warships – amphibious assault ships among them – and a nuclear submarine in international waters of the Caribbean off the territorial waters of Venezuela. On board those ships are more than 2,000 US military personnel, including Marines, Harrier aircraft and F-35 fighters. In addition, Washington maintains troops in bases in Puerto Rico.
