Trump Authorizes CIA to Prepare Covert Operations in Venezuela Amid Renewed Back-Channel Talks
US President Donald Trump has authorized the CIA to prepare covert operations inside Venezuela as part of a broader campaign to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s government, according to a report published by The New York Times. Citing several individuals briefed on the matter, the report states that Trump approved potential clandestine measures that could serve to prepare the ground for further US action.
Despite escalating tensions, the report also indicates that the White House has reopened back-channel communications with Caracas. During these discreet exchanges, Maduro allegedly signaled at one point that he might consider stepping down after a transitional period—though no concrete agreement has been reached.
In a televised address on Monday, Maduro warned that any US military intervention would represent the “political end” of Trump’s leadership. He accused figures within the US administration of attempting to “provoke” an armed clash for political gain. Maduro reaffirmed that Venezuela remains committed to dialogue, emphasizing that diplomacy continues to be his government’s “invariable” position.
Meanwhile, since early September, the United States has carried out 21 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific, claiming they were involved in drug smuggling operations. These actions have resulted in 83 deaths, and Trump has suggested that similar strikes could be expanded to alleged trafficking sites on Venezuelan territory.
