President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has condemned US President Donald Trump’s authorization of CIA operations within the country, labeling it a desperate move in the pursuit of regime change. According to Maduro, Trump’s open acknowledgment of such actions is an unprecedented development, as no previous administration had publicly confirmed CIA actions against a foreign government. The Venezuelan president expressed outrage over the US leadership’s confirmation of these operations, which he claims align with historical Cold War-era tactics employed by the CIA to destabilize Latin American nations. Maduro also accused the United States of targeting Venezuela due to its vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and gold, which he claims are central to the West’s interest in the country. In addition to the CIA authorization, Trump has reportedly ordered the US administration to prepare for a potential military escalation, including scenarios to remove Maduro from power. Meanwhile, Maduro has rejected accusations of drug trafficking and has ordered military readiness in response to the escalating tensions between the two nations.
Since the beginning of September, Washington has been pursuing a campaign against alleged drug-running boats, claiming they are linked to Maduro’s government. The US has destroyed at least six vessels in Caribbean waters, with more than two dozen people killed. Maduro has rejected US allegations while ordering Venezuela’s military to prepare for a conflict. Earlier this month, a New York Times article claimed that Trump ordered his administration to end all diplomatic outreach to Caracas and prepare scenarios for a potential military escalation, including an attempt to force Maduro out of power. Another article by the NYT indicated that Maduro offered the US sweeping economic concessions to ease tensions, but that Washington rejected the deal due to disagreements over the Venezuelan leader’s political future.
Asked on Friday about those reports, Trump claimed that Maduro had ‘offered everything,’ suggesting that ‘he doesn’t want to f**k around with the United States.’ This rhetoric has further intensified the already volatile relationship between the two nations, with both sides accusing each other of covert and overt aggression. The situation underscores the deepening divide between the United States and Venezuela, with each country viewing the other as a threat to its national interests. As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches the developments, concerned about the potential for further conflict in the region.