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US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, provoking anger from the South American country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.
US forces have already carried out at least five raids on suspected drug-trafficking ships in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 27 people. UN-appointed human rights experts have described the raids as “extrajudicial executions”.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the US is "scoping out the terrain" as it considers further attacks on drug cartels in the region.
Nicolás Maduro, whose legitimacy as president of Venezuela has been internationally contested after last year's disputed elections, called on television for peace with the US.
The increased US military presence in the region has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack.
According to the New York Times, Trump's authorization would allow the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela unilaterally or as part of any broader US military activity.
It remains unknown whether the CIA is planning operations in Venezuela, or whether these plans are being held as a contingency, but the spy agency has a long history of activities in South America.
In the latest US attack on Tuesday, six people were killed when a ship was targeted near the coast of Venezuela.
In Truth Social, Trump said that "intelligence confirmed that the ship was trafficking narcotics, was connected to illegal narco-terrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO drug trafficking route, a drug trafficking organization."
As has happened in previous attacks, US officials have not specified which drug trafficking organization is suspected of operating the ship or the identities of those on board.
Maduro went on the radio on Wednesday evening to warn against escalation.
"No to regime change, which reminds us so much of the endless and failed wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and so on," the Venezuelan leader said.
"No to CIA-orchestrated coups. Hear me, not war, but peace, people of the United States," he added.
Earlier in the day, Maduro ordered military exercises in the Caracas suburb of Petares and in the neighboring state of Miranda on Wednesday.
In a message on Telegram, he said he was mobilizing the army, police and civilian militia to defend the oil-rich country.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil said on Telegram that Venezuela "rejects the warmongering and extravagant statements of the president of the United States."
"We view with great alarm the use of the CIA, as well as the announced military deployments in the Caribbean, which constitute a policy of aggression, intimidation and harassment against Venezuela," he added.
Trump has deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine and fighter jets to the Caribbean in what the White House calls an effort to crack down on drug smuggling.
In a recently released memo sent to US lawmakers, the Trump administration said it had determined it was engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug trafficking organizations.
US officials have alleged that Maduro himself is part of an organization called the Cartel of the Suns, which they say includes senior Venezuelan military and security officials involved in drug trafficking. Maduro has denied the allegations.
Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and Assistant Undersecretary of Defense, told the BBC: “To conduct covert actions, there has to be a presidential decision for the CIA specifically authorizing it, with specific actions identified.”
Mulroy added that such a decision would mark a "significant increase" in efforts against drug trafficking organizations.
"Maybe a real-life 'Sicario,'" he said, referring to a 2015 film that depicts American operatives launching clandestine operations against drug cartels in Mexico.
Do ketë një marrëveshje SHBA- Venezuelë. Kjo është e sigurt. Ky është interes i ndërsjelltë.