President Donald Trump has reportedly authorized CIA plans for covert operations inside Venezuela as tensions between Washington D.C. and Caracas continue to escalate.
The New York Times detailed that such operations could pave the way for further action against the Venezuelan regime. It is not clear what the options are or when they could be carried out.
However, since Trump has not yet authorized combat forces on the ground, the next phase could be sabotage or cyber, psychological or information operations. In fact, other outlets reported during the weekend that Washington D.C. considered dropping leaflets in Venezuela showing the $50 million reward the U.S. is offering for information that could lead to the capture of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.
At the same time, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is set to visit the Caribbean on Monday. Citing two people familiar with the matter, the NYT added that the stated reason for the trip of Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is thanking troops ahead of Thanksgiving.
However, the outlet added, Caine was key in developing Operation Southern Spear, the largest buildup of forces in the region since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and which has seen more than 20 strikes against alleged drug vessels that have so far killed over 80 people.
On Friday, the U.S. also issued a NOTAM advisory over a "potentially hazardous situation" near Venezuela's main airport, Maiquetia, due to the "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around" the country.
"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival, and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground," the advisory adds. Several airlines have cancelled flights to and from Venezuela during the weekend as a result.
But at the same time he authorized a new round of back-channel negotiations. He said late last week that he will speak with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro in the "not too distant future" and will say "something very specific" to him.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
