Trump Authorizes CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela

President Donald Trump has acknowledged authorizing the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, an unusual public disclosure of such sensitive activities. This authorization, known as a presidential finding, grants the agency broad latitude to undertake operations in the region, potentially encompassing lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers and initiatives aimed at destabilizing or overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro's government.

Historically, presidential findings have led to various covert actions, including drone strikes on militants, support for insurgencies, and regime change efforts. While most remain classified, such directives require the president to determine that the operations are "necessary to support identifiable foreign policy objectives... [and] important to the national security of the United States." Once made, this determination must be shared with the House and Senate intelligence committees, though congressional approval is not mandatory; Congress can only block these operations through legislation or by cutting funding.

Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and deputy under secretary of defense, explained that the parameters of these authorities are outlined in the finding, but there are essentially no limitations, and congressional approval is not required. He noted that any restrictions imposed on the CIA's activities are executive orders, which the president can modify as needed.

Potential CIA actions under this authorization could include targeted killings, covert influence operations, shaping local politics, or supporting armed rebel movements. For instance, in December 1979, a presidential finding allowed the CIA to deliver lethal aid to Afghan guerrillas fighting the Soviet invasion. Similar findings have supported covert aid to groups like the Contras in Nicaragua and operations against al-Qaeda post-9/11.

Dexter Ingram, former director for combating violent extremism at the State Department, cautioned about the U.S.'s historical record with such operations, stating, "There's a long history, and it's not always positive. I think we have to look at our history... it's a slippery slope."

The specifics of the CIA's plans in Venezuela remain unclear. President Trump justified the authorization and recent U.S. airstrikes in the Caribbean by citing the flow of drugs from Venezuela to the U.S. CIA operations could target suspected members of groups like Tren de Aragua and the Cartel of the Suns, designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., through paramilitary operations or drone strikes.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year CIA veteran, noted that the agency's methodology of "find, fix, and finish" developed during the global war on terror could be applied to criminal networks. He emphasized that while previous targets operated in ungoverned spaces, operations in Venezuela would be conducted without the cooperation of the Venezuelan government.

Additionally, the CIA might engage in sabotage operations against Maduro-aligned targets, influence operations to shift public opinion, or provide training and weapons to anti-Maduro groups, all of which have historical precedents in Latin America and elsewhere. Polymeropoulos highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the authorization, stating, "Nobody knows what this [authorization] is. There's a million different questions."