The Trump administration has authorized the CIA to undertake secret lethal operations in Venezuela in order to weaken and eventually replace Nicolás Maduro, the country’s autocratic leader. The intelligence, first reported by The New York Times on October 15, was later confirmed by President Donald Trump himself, who declared: “We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control.”
Indeed, the authorization to conduct undercover operations in Venezuela is the latest episode of strong US interventionism near Venezuelan waters. Over the past week, US military forces have targeted boats off the Venezuelan coast allegedly linked to drug trafficking, killing 27 people.
The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, amassing 10,000 troops and deploying eight warships and submarines in the area. The country also suspended diplomatic talks with the Venezuelan government earlier in October.
For its part, Venezuela has declared that the US' ultimate goal is to overthrow the Venezuelan government in order to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil resources. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, according to OPEC data, although its current production remains limited. The CIA has been involved in various controversial activities, including overthrowing governments, orchestrating false flag operations, and introducing highly addictive drugs into the United States.
As declassified covert CIA operations continue to emerge, they make for compelling reading. Intrigued? Keep reading to discover more about these clandestine endeavors.