US signs off on covert CIA operations inside Venezuela: NYT

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The New York Times
Today 10:15

Trump escalates US strategy on Venezuela with covert CIA plans, naval buildup, and rejected transition deal, aiming to secure control over key oil assets.

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Fabiana Rosales, a Venezuelan activist who is the wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 27, 2019. (AP)

US President Donald Trump has authorized the CIA to pursue covert operations in Venezuela, as the United States intensifies pressure on President Nicolás Maduro and prepares for the possibility of wider military action in the region, The New York Times reported, citing multiple individuals familiar with the matter.

With the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford now stationed in the Caribbean, the Trump administration has signed off on clandestine plans intended to influence conditions inside Venezuela and potentially pave the way for further meddling. At the same time, the president has approved another round of indirect talks with Maduro, discussions that reportedly included an offer from the Venezuelan leader to step down after a delay of two to three years, a proposal the White House ultimately rejected.

While it is not known what specific covert operations have been approved or when they might be implemented, officials confirmed that Trump has not authorized the deployment of ground combat forces. Any expanded US campaign would likely begin with non-conventional military measures, including sabotage, cyber activity, or psychological and information warfare. Military planners are also preparing additional options if the situation escalates further.

Strategic planning underway

Pentagon officials have reportedly drafted plans targeting drug-processing sites and military units close to Maduro, while Trump convened two Situation Room meetings last week to review contingencies with senior national security advisors. Should the CIA move forward, intelligence operations are expected to precede any overt military strikes, as per the report.

On Sunday, Trump appeared to acknowledge the contacts indirectly, saying, “We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out.”

Balancing pressure and leverage

In public, Trump has framed the US campaign around narcotics trafficking and illegal migration. Privately, however, advisers say the president has spoken more candidly about securing long-term access to Venezuelan petroleum assets for American firms. Despite negotiations, the White House remains firmly opposed to any arrangement that would allow Maduro an extended transition period out of power.

For now, the administration appears to be maintaining a dual-track strategy, escalating pressure while keeping diplomatic channels open. Officials involved in the discussions say Trump has not committed to a final strategy and could still pursue a negotiated deal, a phased transfer of power, or direct meddling aimed at forcibly removing the Venezuelan leader.

Largest regional military buildup in decades

A major US military presence is already in place. “Operation Southern Spear,” the ongoing deployment, represents the strongest American naval and military buildup in the Caribbean since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Gerald R. Ford is joined by approximately 15,000 US personnel stationed on amphibious vessels and at bases across the region, including Puerto Rico.

Pressure is also mounting on the political front. The State Department has announced that, starting November 24, it will classify the Cartel de los Soles as a "terrorist organization", a designation aimed less at drug cartels in the traditional sense and more at labeling large segments of Maduro’s government as a "terrorism entity". Analysts say this move could lay the legal groundwork for future military action.

In recent days, Trump has signaled that all options remain available. “I don’t rule out anything,” he said on Monday. “We just have to take care of Venezuela.”

Controversy over US strikes

The US has carried out 21 publicly acknowledged strikes on boats Washington says were transporting narcotics, killing at least 83 people.

Trump insists the attacks were backed by “ample intelligence,” though the administration has offered no detailed evidence on the contents of the vessels.

Legal experts and Democratic lawmakers have accused the White House of launching lethal strikes without congressional authorization, targeting civilians suspected of crimes but not classified as combatants.

While Trump initially said the US targeted fentanyl in earlier operations, Pentagon officials have privately told lawmakers that the intercepted shipments were carrying cocaine, not synthetic opioids.