US Authorizes CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela Amid Tensions with Latin America

Latin American nations have voiced strong objections to the US move, which they see as a clear threat to their sovereignty and an attempt to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. The CIA's covert operations in the region have sparked outrage and condemnations from leaders across the continent, with some warning of a potential escalation into a wider conflict. The US administration's claims of targeting drug trafficking and promoting democracy in the region have been met with skepticism by many, who argue that this is merely a new pretext for Washington's long-standing goal of maintaining its influence over Latin America.

Key Takeaways:

• The US has authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, with the aim of removing President Nicolas Maduro from power, as reported by The New York Times.
• The operations are part of a broader US strategy to target alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, with the Pentagon deploying warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and over 6,500 troops to the region.
• Since early September, at least five deadly strikes have targeted small vessels, killing 27 people, with US President Donald Trump claiming that these operations are saving "25,000 American lives."
• Critics have denounced the operations as "extrajudicial killings" and "regime change in disguise," with the French daily Le Monde warning that the US actions violate international law.
• Latin American leaders, including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Bolivian President Luis Arce, have expressed solidarity with Venezuela and condemned the US move as an affront to sovereignty and a violation of international law.
• The CIA's covert operations in Latin America have a long and controversial history, marked by covert interventions, assassinations, and support for coups throughout the 20th century.
• Analysts warn that the tension between the US and Latin America could escalate into a wider conflict, sparked by a minor incident or a US show of force.

Statistics:

• At least 5 deadly strikes have targeted small vessels in the Caribbean since early September, killing 27 people.
• The US has deployed 8 warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and over 6,500 troops to the Caribbean to target alleged drug-smuggling boats.
• The US has offered $50 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on US drug trafficking charges.
• The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Treaty has condemned the US CIA operations as a direct violation of the principle of sovereignty and a threat to international law.

Sources:

• Xinhua, October 20, 2025
• The New York Times, reported in Xinhua, October 20, 2025
• Le Monde, quoted in Xinhua, October 20, 2025
• Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Treaty, communique released on October 20, 2025.