The New York Times first reported the classified directive, citing U.S. officials. familiar with the decision. Venezuela rejected the statements “warmongers and extravagant” of Trump.
Venezuela’s response
In a statement, Venezuela stated that the United States maneuvers seek legitimize a “regime change” operation with the end of “appropriate the oil resources Venezuelans.”
“Tomorrow our Permanent Mission to the UN will raise this complaint before the Security Council and the Secretary General, demanding accountability from the United States government,” added the Venezuelan government in its note released by the Chancellor Yván Gil in your Telegram account.
For his part, Trump said he authorized the action for two main reasons. First of all, he stated that Venezuela freed a large number of prisonersincluding individuals from mental health centers, who arrive in the United States, although the president did not specify which border they crossed nor where they arrived.
The second reason, he said, was the large number of drugs entering the United States from Venezuela, a large part of them trafficked by sea. “I think Venezuela is feeling the pressure…” Trump added, but declined to answer when asked if the CIA has authority to execute Maduro.
Trump ordered a large US troop surge in southern Caribbeanwhich have carried out at least five attacks against boats that the US administration described as involved in drug trafficking, without providing evidence.
The scale of the US military deployment
During the last weeks, the united states armed forces carried out attacks against vessels sailing off the coast of Venezuela and that, according to official reports, they transported drugsleaving a balance of 27 dead. American sources confirmed in private conversations that The true strategic objective would be to weaken the regime of Nicolás Maduro and eventually force him out of power.
In parallel, the CIA evaluates the possibility of undertake covert operations directed against the Venezuelan president or his closest circle. These actions could be executed unilaterally or as part of a broader military offensive. It is not yet clear whether the intelligence agency has a concrete operational plan in place or whether current authorizations They work as preventive measures in the face of an escalation of the conflict.
The scenario matches a preparation phase of the US Armywhich develops military alternatives to be presented to then-President Donald Trumpincluding direct attacks within Venezuelan territory.
The magnitude of the deployment in the region is considerable: more than 10,000 American soldiers They are currently stationed in the Caribbeanmainly in Puerto Rico basesalong with a detachment of marines aboard amphibious assault ships. Furthermore, the United States Navy maintains eight surface warships and one operational submarine in the area, reinforcing the military presence in a context of growing tension.
Donald Trump analyzes attacking Venezuela by land
The president of USA stated that, after the attacks against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, his government examines the land activity of drug cartels active in Venezuela. Furthermore, it does not rule out the possibility of new attacks
“We will see what happens with Venezuela,” the Republican said in response to a specific question about future attacks, according to Europa Press. According to Trump, the South American country remains “very, very dangerous,” but he defended the military strategy undertaken in recent weeks in the area.
The North American president assured that, after the attacks on the boats, the flow of drugs was reduced to zero. “No drugs enter our country by sea, because it was lethal,” he said in statements this Tuesday.
Source: Ambito
