Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro responded on Wednesday to U.S. President Donald Trump after Washington revealed it had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations within Venezuela. Maduro's reaction featured his signature "Bolivarian English," urging peace in the Caribbean with the message: "Not war, peace."
The Spanish newspaper El País described Maduro's words as part of his "deliberately clumsy English," a familiar tactic in his speeches aimed at connecting with an international audience. These remarks came shortly after Trump confirmed his administration had given the CIA the green light to carry out secret and potentially deadly operations against narcotics-linked structures in Venezuela.
The New York Times disclosed that this measure was sanctioned via a classified presidential order known as a presidential finding, enabling the agency to operate independently or in conjunction with potential military maneuvers in the Caribbean.
U.S. Military Actions and Reactions from Venezuela
During a press conference, Trump stated that the decision is intended to curb drug trafficking and illegal immigration from Venezuela. "They've emptied their prisons into the United States. We have a lot of drugs coming from Venezuela, and many of those drugs enter by sea, but we will stop them by land as well," the president asserted.
The U.S. president further claimed that "Venezuela feels the pressure" and vowed not to let "other nations continue burdening the United States with their criminals and mentally ill."
According to a report by NTN24, the U.S. military offensive includes the deployment of B-52 bombers over the Caribbean Sea, maneuvers by the Southern Command, and the presence of about 10,000 personnel in the region, based in Puerto Rico and eight warships. These operations, targeting drug trafficking, have reportedly resulted in at least five sunken vessels and 27 deaths, as cited by El País.
Maduro's Firm Stance Against U.S. Pressure
In response to the White House's announcement, the Palacio de Miraflores released a statement expressing its "extreme alarm" over Trump's "belligerent and extravagant" declarations. During a national broadcast from the Teatro Teresa Carreño, Maduro outright rejected what he termed an attempt at "regime change" driven by the CIA, evoking the 20th-century coups in Chile and Argentina.
"The people of Latin America do not want, do not need, and reject CIA coups," declared the Venezuelan president, urging American society to mobilize to "prevent a war in the Caribbean."
Meanwhile, key figures of the Chavismo movement, like Diosdado Cabello, responded sarcastically. "We should thank the United States for formally announcing that the CIA will start operating in Venezuela," he said, referencing the bounties offered by Washington: $50 million for information leading to Maduro's capture and $25 million for Cabello, who faces drug trafficking charges.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also voiced concern over a potential increase in regional violence, warning that U.S. anti-drug actions might extend into Colombian territory. "If missiles land there or violent activity by CIA agents or marines starts on the ground, that would indeed be my responsibility," Petro said, as reported by NTN24.
This renewed tension between Caracas and Washington heightens the atmosphere of uncertainty in Latin America, where old fears of interventions and covert operations resurface. While Maduro aims to project an image of resistance and pacifism in the face of U.S. military threats, the White House continues to exert pressure on a regime accused of drug trafficking and human rights violations. Once again, the Caribbean becomes the visible stage of a power struggle echoing the Cold War era.
Key Questions about U.S.-Venezuela Relations
What prompted the U.S. to authorize CIA operations in Venezuela?
The U.S. authorized CIA operations to combat drug trafficking and address illegal immigration concerns from Venezuela.
How did Nicolás Maduro respond to the U.S. actions?
Nicolás Maduro responded by calling for peace in the Caribbean and rejecting the U.S.'s actions as an attempt at regime change.
What are the implications of U.S. military presence in the Caribbean?
The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean aims to combat drug trafficking but raises tensions in Latin America, reminiscent of Cold War-era interventions.