Escalating American Confrontation in Venezuela: Secret CIA Operations and Possible Ground Intervention

In a remarkable shift in international policy, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, that he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, while also indicating that his administration is considering direct ground intervention in the country.

This rare admission about CIA activity in Venezuela comes after a series of military strikes carried out by the U.S. in the Caribbean in recent weeks. These operations targeted boats suspected of drug trafficking; at least five vessels were destroyed since early September, resulting in 27 fatalities, with four of the boats originating from Venezuela.

During an Oval Office event, Trump revealed that he personally made the authorization decision for two main reasons: first, he claimed that Venezuelan authorities emptied prisons and sent criminals to the U.S.; second, the increasing volume of drugs coming from Venezuela, most of which enter by sea, poses a threat to American security and fuels government concerns about the influx of crime and narcotics.

Trump added that his administration is "considering ground operations" as an advanced step to protect national security, though he declined to say if the CIA's mandate extends specifically to targeting President Nicolás Maduro. This development underscores mounting tensions between Washington and Caracas and raises questions about the future of bilateral relations and the possibility of direct American military intervention in Venezuela.