In a major escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he personally authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The revelation has sparked global debate, fierce political reactions, and growing fears of renewed U.S. intervention in Latin America.

At the same time, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced what he called “CIA-orchestrated coups,” rejecting any effort at regime change and calling on Americans to support “peace, not war.”

The development adds a new layer of complexity to the long-running conflict between the United States and Venezuela — a confrontation rooted in disputes over drug trafficking, human rights, and national sovereignty.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump made the rare admission that a U.S. president had approved a CIA covert mission inside a foreign country. Presidents usually avoid confirming such activities publicly, but Trump defended the move as necessary to combat crime and protect national security.

“I authorized it for two reasons,” Trump said. “Number one, they’ve emptied their prisons into the United States. And number two, drugs — a lot of Venezuelan drugs are coming in by sea, and we’re going to stop them by land too.”

He declined to answer whether the CIA’s actions were intended to remove President Maduro from power, calling the question “ridiculous.”

Trump also confirmed that U.S. forces have carried out multiple strikes in the Caribbean against suspected narcotics boats. At least 27 people have been killed in the raids so far, which human rights groups describe as “extrajudicial executions.”

The president added that the U.S. is now “looking at land operations,” further fueling speculation about a potential expansion of military activity in the region.

President Nicolás Maduro, whose presidency remains contested internationally after disputed elections, delivered a televised address calling for calm and rejecting what he called U.S. aggression.

“To the people of the United States, I say: no war, yes peace,” Maduro declared. “No to regime change. No to CIA-orchestrated coups that remind us of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.”

He ordered nationwide military drills in Caracas and neighboring states, mobilizing armed forces, police, and civilian militias to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Venezuela’s foreign minister also condemned Trump’s statements as “warmongering” and accused the U.S. of pursuing “a policy of aggression, threat, and harassment.” Officials warned that any military or intelligence action on Venezuelan soil would violate international law.

Trump’s confirmation comes amid an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean. Reports suggest that approximately 10,000 American personnel are now deployed in the region, stationed on naval vessels and in Puerto Rico.

The White House has stated that the operations are part of a larger effort to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the flow of narcotics into the United States. However, critics argue that the move mirrors past interventions in Latin America and could escalate into a direct confrontation.

The U.S. has already deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and fighter jets as part of this campaign. Trump administration officials describe it as a “non-international armed conflict” with drug-trafficking organizations — a classification that gives U.S. forces broad operational freedom.

The CIA has a long and controversial history of involvement in Latin America, including covert operations during the Cold War that helped topple governments in Chile, Guatemala, and elsewhere. Trump’s admission of a new CIA mission in Venezuela revives those memories and raises questions about U.S. interventionism in 21st-century South America.

Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and Defense Department official, noted that a “presidential finding” is required to authorize covert action. He described such an order as a “substantial increase in efforts” against criminal networks, comparing the situation to a “real-life Sicario” — referencing the Hollywood film about U.S. operatives fighting cartels in secret missions.

Trump’s decision also sparks a fierce legal and ethical debate in Washington. Under the War Powers Resolution, presidents must seek congressional approval for sustained military operations abroad. If U.S. intelligence or military forces engage directly in Venezuelan territory, legal experts say it could breach both U.S. law and international norms.

Human rights organizations have already condemned the recent boat strikes as unlawful, arguing that they lack transparency and accountability. The United Nations human rights panel described the killings as possible extrajudicial executions.

Across Latin America, leaders are watching the U.S.–Venezuela confrontation with growing concern. Colombia, Brazil, and several Caribbean nations have urged restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilize the region.

Observers note that the threat of foreign intervention could actually strengthen Maduro’s political position at home, allowing him to rally nationalist sentiment and portray the U.S. as a foreign aggressor.

As Washington and Caracas trade accusations, analysts say the next steps could determine whether this becomes a limited counter-narcotics campaign or the start of a broader covert conflict.

Key questions remain:

For now, the world watches as Donald Trump’s CIA authorization and Nicolás Maduro’s vow of resistance push U.S.–Venezuela relations into one of their most dangerous chapters in decades.

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