Trump Authorizes CIA Operations Within Venezuela, Signaling Escalation Against Maduro

US Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel Sparks Tensions with Venezuela

In a U.S. military operation on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, a strike targeted a boat off Venezuela’s coast, killing six people aboard, according to U.S. officials. The incident has escalated diplomatic friction, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro vowing a robust defense response.

Details of the Strike

President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, justified the action by stating that “intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known drug-trafficking corridor.” As with prior operations, U.S. authorities have withheld specifics on the alleged drug-trafficking organization involved or the identities of those killed.

This marks the latest in a series of U.S. counter-narcotics efforts in the region. The White House has deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and fighter jets to the Caribbean to intensify anti-smuggling operations. A recently leaked memo to U.S. lawmakers revealed the administration’s determination that these actions constitute involvement in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug-trafficking groups.

U.S. officials have long accused Maduro of ties to the “Cartel of the Suns,” a purported network of high-ranking Venezuelan military and security officials engaged in narcotics trafficking. Maduro has vehemently denied these allegations.

Venezuela’s Response

Maduro swiftly retaliated by ordering military exercises in the Caracas suburb of Petare and neighboring Miranda state for Wednesday. In a Telegram message, he announced the mobilization of the military, police, and civilian militias “to defend Venezuela and win at peace.”

The socialist leader framed the strike within a broader narrative of U.S. aggression, accusing Washington of plotting regime change. This comes amid ongoing fallout from claims that Maduro rigged Venezuela’s presidential election last year.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez echoed the defiance during a televised address on Wednesday, declaring: “Let no aggressor dare, because they know that here is the people of [Venezuelan liberator Simón] Bolívar, that here is the people of our ancestors with their swords raised to defend us under any circumstance.”

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello went further, alleging the U.S. seeks to “rob” Venezuela – an oil-rich nation – “of its immense natural resources,”.

As tensions simmer, both sides appear entrenched, with the U.S. emphasizing counter-drug imperatives and Venezuela viewing the actions as imperial overreach. International observers are watching closely for potential escalations in the volatile Caribbean theater.