WASHINGTON – President Trump acknowledged authorizing a covert U.S. strike on venezuelan territory, a revelation that disrupted the post-Christmas calm in the nation’s capital and sparked a flurry of questions within his own administration. The declaration, made Friday in an interview with a local news outlet, promptly sent officials scrambling to determine the target of the operation.
Escalating Tensions: A Shadow War with venezuela?
The President’s unexpected confirmation of covert actions raises concerns about the administration’s strategy toward Caracas.
- President Trump confirmed authorizing CIA actions in venezuela, initially revealing this in October.
- The recent strike reportedly targeted a “dock area” used for drug trafficking, according to the President.
- The administration has steadily increased pressure on Venezuela through sanctions and a naval buildup in the Caribbean.
- questions remain about the ultimate objectives of the U.S. policy toward Venezuela, including the possibility of regime change.
Three sources familiar with the matter stated that officials tracking reports of refinery fires and other unusual events in Venezuela were initially unsure which location the President was referencing. Trump later specified the strike targeted a “dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.” This initial confusion underscored the limited circle within the White House involved in decisions regarding potential escalation with Caracas.
What is the extent of U.S. involvement in Venezuela? The President initially confirmed authorizing CIA actions in Venezuela during a conversation with reporters in October. While the administration is required to report covert CIA operations to Congress, congressional authorization for the use of military force is more extensive.
“The U.S. has long maintained that a small percentage of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. originates there. Trump has recently hinted at other motivations driving his approach.
Over the past four months, the Trump administration has gradually increased pressure on Maduro, initially targeting boats suspected of carrying narcotics and drug smugglers in international waters. This was followed by an announcement of a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers. Consequently, venezuela’s oil exports have decreased by half in the last month.
On wednesday, the Treasury Department issued sanctions against four companies allegedly operating in Venezuela’s oil sector or providing support to oil tankers. “Maduro’s regime increasingly depends on a shadow fleet of worldwide vessels to facilitate sanctionable activity,including sanctions evasion,and to generate revenue for its destabilizing operations,” the department stated.”Today’s action further signals that those involved in the Venezuelan oil trade continue to face meaningful sanctions risks.”
The Pentagon has stationed nearly a quarter of the U.S. naval fleet in the Caribbean as the summer, a deployment Trump has described as a “massive armada” unprecedented in the region.
While Venezuela’s current oil production is relatively low, the nation possesses the world’s largest known oil reserves, offering potential access to future strategic partners. China is currently the largest importer of Venezuelan oil, and at least one tanker affected by the U.S. blockade has sought protection from Moscow, Maduro’s primary military ally.
Discussing the blockade with reporters, Trump revealed he had spoken with top U.S. oil executives about the potential of the Venezuelan market without Maduro in power. He also suggested the U.S. government would retain any seized oil, echoing his past campaign rhetoric about controlling Iraqi oil fields as spoils of war.
“We’re going to keep it,” Trump said last week, referring to the 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan oil seized from the first tanker.”Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves. We’re keeping it.”
“We’re keeping the ships, also,” he added.
