Florida News: Politics and Policy Developments
According to Julian E. Barnes and Tyler Pager of The New York Times, the Donald Trump administration has authorized covert CIA action in Venezuela.
The Trump administration has secretly authorized the CIA to conduct covert action in Venezuela, stepping up a campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the country’s authoritarian leader.
The authorization is part of the Trump administration's intensifying pressure campaign against Venezuela, with the military targeting boats off the Venezuelan coast that are transporting drugs, resulting in 27 deaths. American officials have stated that the end goal is to drive Maduro from power.
- The new authority allows the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela.
- The agency can conduct a range of operations in the Caribbean.
- Covert action can be taken against Maduro or his government, either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation.
Author's summary: Trump administration authorizes CIA action in Venezuela.