President Trump confirmed that he has authorised the CIA to go into Venezuela and conduct covert operations.

Washington

President Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela, stating the decision was motivated by concerns over drug trafficking and claims that Venezuelan prisoners had entered the United States. The US military has increased its activity in the Caribbean, targeting boats allegedly involved in drug smuggling, resulting in several strikes and casualties. The administration has also offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom it links to drug cartels. When asked if the CIA was authorized to target Maduro directly, Trump declined to answer. The CIA has not commented on the operations, and the president dismissed concerns about the legality of recent military actions.

Trump says he authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela

Good evening, I'm John Dickerson. I'm Maurice Dubois. Tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro are growing. US forces have been targeting alleged drug smuggling boats and blowing them out of the waters off Venezuela over the past few weeks. And today, President Trump confirmed for our Ed O'Keefe that he has approved CIA operations in the South American country. Would those operations include toppling Maduro, who Mr. Trump considers an illegitimate president? Ed asked him that, too, and he joins us now from the White House. Ed. Good evening. The president's confirmation of those CIA operations comes as the US military continues striking alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea. But the president now also isn't ruling out potential US military operations inside Venezuela. This afternoon in the Oval Office, President Trump confirmed he gave the go-ahead for the CIA to enter Venezuela. Why did you authorize the CIA to go into Venezuela? I authorized for two reasons, really. Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America. They came in through the border. While hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have come legally and illegally to the United States in recent years, there's no evidence they've come out of prisons. And the other thing are drugs. We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela. And a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea, so you get to see that. But we're going to stop them by land also. The president's confirmation comes as the US military has surged forces into the Caribbean. More than 6,000 troops, including 2,000 Marines, aboard the USS Iwo Jima. So far, the administration's announced five strikes on boats that killed 27 people. It claims they were filled with drugs and narco-terrorists. The New York Times reported Wednesday the new authority allows the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and conduct a range of operations across the Caribbean. In August, the administration announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, linking him to a Venezuelan drug cartel. Does the CIA have authority to take out Maduro? Oh, I don't want to answer a question like that. That's a ridiculous question for me to be given. Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer? But I think Venezuela's feeling heat, but I think a lot of other countries are feeling heat, too. We should point out the CIA had no comment tonight. The president disputed bipartisan concerns about the legality of the strikes on alleged drug boats, insisting Congress is getting information and that the vessels have been loaded up with drugs. And, quote, that's the thing that matters.

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