Nowhere is this bolder action more evident than in Venezuela. He has signed off on secret CIA operations to kill Nicolás Maduro’s regime. This announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions over Maduro’s rule. Further fueled by incendiary claims of election fraud and the dumping of dangerous criminals into the US interior.
Consider Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, who is pilloried on a daily basis for having stolen elections last year. The Trump administration has alleged that Maduro has freed thousands of prisoners. This includes people from mental health institutions who are now entering the U.S. borders. Under this scenario, Biden would face severe criticism from Trump and other conservatives, who would claim that this is an open border policy and it threatens national security.
Trump’s assertions include claims that Maduro’s government is a significant source of illegal drugs entering the U.S., labeling the regime “narcoterrorists.” Trump has offered little proof to back up his claims. An unprecedented $50 million bounty has been put on Maduro’s head, seeking to promote information resulting in his arrest.
Maduro has fiercely rejected these allegations, claiming that he does not run a drug cartel. Trump lashes out at GOP presidential candidate’s suggestion to curb CIA regime changes and coups. He denounced those operations as “coups d’etat orchestrated by the CIA” and strongly reaffirmed his opposition to foreign meddling in Venezuela.
To bolster his regime’s defenses amidst these increasing tensions, Maduro has ordered military exercises in Venezuela’s largest shantytowns and mobilized military forces, police, and civilian militias to protect the nation. This extensive military buildup is a testament to Maduro’s will to strengthen his position in the face of external threats, real or imagined.
Venezuelan military drug cartels have become a frequent point of mention surrounding the Trump administration’s military posture in the Latin America cradle. And with reports emerging that Trump is reportedly planning land strikes too, the possibility of an armed conflict becomes even more terrifying. The U.S. government has already treated drug cartels as unlawful combatants. This announcement represents a step toward a more hawkish posture and could open the door to more direct military intervention.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen voiced her apprehensions regarding the U.S. actions, stating, “The Trump administration’s authorization of covert CIA action, conducting lethal strikes on boats and hinting at land operations in Venezuela slides the United States closer to outright conflict with no transparency, oversight or apparent guardrails.”