• Trump authorized CIA covert operations in Venezuela, citing drug trafficking and prison releases as reasons.
• The US has conducted multiple military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela.
• Maduro claims the US aims for regime change and denounces CIA involvement as an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty.
• Cuba has pledged support for Venezuela in response to US actions.
• Concerns arise over the legality and consequences of US military involvement in the region.

On October 15, President Donald Trump confirmed that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. He stated the rationale behind this decision included concerns over "drugs coming in from Venezuela" and the assertion that the country has "emptied their prisons into the United States," effectively linking national security to drug trafficking issues. This announcement follows a New York Times report detailing the CIA's new operational freedom, reportedly to assist in a broader strategy aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to Reuters, BBC, and TRT Global.

In the weeks preceding Trump's announcement, U.S. military forces had conducted at least five strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, believed to be involved in drug trafficking. Reports indicate that approximately 27 individuals were killed in these operations, which Trump characterized as necessary actions to combat narcotraffickers, as stated by ABC News and South China Morning Post.

Maduro responded sharply, accusing the U.S. of direct attempts at "regime change" and alleging that the CIA has been conspiring against Venezuela for years. He referred to the U.S. strikes as malicious attempts to destabilize his government and reaffirmed that Venezuela's military and civilian population are united to resist any external threats. Maduro has labeled the U.S. actions as violations that diminish Venezuela's sovereignty, reflected in statements he made to supporters and through official communications, as reported by Los Angeles Times and AA.

In light of the escalating tensions, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed solidarity with Venezuela and condemned Trump's actions on social media, emphasizing the historical support between the two nations against U.S. interventions, as detailed by AA. Observers are concerned about the implications of Trump's administration's military operations, which some argue could lead to serious violations of international law and have raised questions regarding the lack of Congressional oversight, as highlighted by NPR.

Furthermore, the U.S. government’s actions have prompted strong reactions from Congress, where bipartisan concerns have emerged regarding the potential for escalation into open conflict without legislative approval. Critics insist that such military measures, which are being employed under claims of addressing drug trafficking, resemble acts of war and could provoke further international condemnation, based on information from Channel News Asia and BBC.