What does Trump’s authorization mean for the CIA’s plans for a covert operation in Venezuela?

LOOK: From criminal organization to global threat: the consequences of the US declaring the Cartel of the Suns terrorist

It is unclear when the covert actions could take place. of the CIA.

In parallel, the NYT points out, the White House has maintained indirect negotiations with representatives of Ripe.

According to sources from that newspaper, Maduro would have offered to resign in two or three yearssomething that was rejected by Washington, since considers any delay in his departure from power unacceptable.

Furthermore, the Chavista leader has offered open access to Venezuelan oil and gold to US companies.

On Sunday, Trump appeared open to the possibility of engaging in talks with Madurowhom Washington accuses of being the leader of the Cartel of the Suns, an alleged mafia accused of flooding the United States with drugs.

On the military level, US strategists have prepared lists of possible drug-related facilities that could be attacked in Venezuela. The Pentagon is also planning attacks against military units near Ripe.

The NYT reported that Trump had two meetings in the White House Situation Room last week to talk about Venezuela and review options with your key advisors.

Starting in August, USA began to unfold in the Caribbean the largest naval force since the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s, in what has been called the Operation Lanza del Sur, whose declared objective is the fight against narcoticsbut that Caracas questions and maintains that it actually seeks the fall of the regime of Ripe.

In addition to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Forda dozen warships and a submarine have been deployed. F-35 fighter planes were also sent to Puerto Rico.

A total of 15,000 soldiersincluding marines and personnel in Puerto Rico, are part of the operation.

Since September 1st, The United States has carried out 21 attacks in the Caribbean and the Pacific against vessels accused of trafficking drugs, causing at least 83 deaths.

The actions were done without authorization from Congresswhich has generated criticism and legal questions.

Espionage, deterrence and negotiation

The international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian considers that the authorization of trump for the CIA to execute covert operations in Venezuela confirms that Washington keeps open the option of direct interventiona, although he maintains that the US Government’s strategy is still marked by improvisation.

“All this costly mobilization of means towards the Caribbean it would hardly be justified if they just wanted to push a little. Everything indicates that there is an intention to attack the Venezuelan regime”, points to The Commerce.

Belaunde recalls that this is not the first time that the White House has evaluated clandestine CIA operations in Venezuelan territory, but warns that the signals remain contradictory. As military deployment in the Caribbean increases, Trump once again hints at the possibility of talking with Madurodespite having ruled out that channel weeks ago.

“It is difficult to know if this is a distracting maneuver by Trump or simply the reflection of an administration that improvises, retreats and advances according to the president’s own moods. We have already seen it with tariffs: measures that he applies and then withdraws when they generate discontent,” says.

Belaunde estimates that Washington has two paths regarding Venezuela: press for Maduro’s departure, rejecting proposals such as the two or three-year transition that he would have offered; or accept his permanence in power in exchange for specific concessions, such as greater access to oil or the reception of Venezuelan migrants. “Not even they themselves seem to have decided what they want. They are exploring options without a clear line, and it could happen that all this gigantic military mobilization ends in nothing,” point.

For its part, Andrés Gómez de la Torre, specialist in defense and intelligence issues, tells The Commerce that the authorization of trump This is not a surprise, given that the United States has already attempted clandestine maneuvers in recent months.

Remember the attempt capture a pilot from the Venezuelan Air Force linked to the presidential flights, while he temporarily remained in the Dominican Republic. The operation sought to convince him to divert the presidential plane in a future transfer of Maduroto force a landing at a point where he could be detained and taken to the United States.

“That these plans have existed confirms that covert operations are not a novelty; they are simply executed without announcements and without specifying when they begin or end,” underlines Gómez de la Torre.

The Cartel of the Suns

Beginning Nov. 24, the U.S. State Department will designate the Cartel of the Suns as terrorist organization. This will allow additional pressure and will enable legal options to undertake military actions against structures linked to the Maduro government.

Belaunde believes that this designation could open the door to more aggressive actions against figures of the Chavista regime. “The terrorism label allows targeted assassinations and bombings. The Treasury had already sanctioned the group, but this classification has a more political and potentially more lethal scope”he states.

According to the specialist, the decision fits into the climate of growing pressure, although its final impact will depend on where Washington’s erratic strategy ends up leaning.

For Gómez de la Torre, the appointment of Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization It is the corollary of a process that involved the reward offered for the capture of Maduro and other leaders of the regime and the seizure of Venezuelan property and assets. linked to the Chavista leader. “Now the United States Armed Forces will be authorized to use force against cartels and organized crime.”