U.S. President Donald Trump declared this Wednesday that he is considering carrying out attacks against drug traffickers in Venezuelan territory after sinking several suspected drug trafficking vessels at sea.
"I don't want to tell you exactly, but we're definitely considering land now because we have control of the sea," the president responded during a press conference in the Oval Office. Trump also confirmed, as The New York Times had previously reported, that he authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela because, he said, the country's leaders have"emptied their prisons" to send prisoners to the United States. He also accused Caracas of trafficking drugs into the United States. When asked by a reporter if he authorized the CIA to"eliminate" Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the American said it would be"ridiculous" to answer that question."I think Venezuela is feeling pressure, but I think many other countries are too," he said. The Republican justified the bombings of several boats in the Caribbean by stating that Coast Guard interdictions “never worked”.He also stated that each of these vessels transports enough drugs to cause thousands of deaths from overdoses:"It's hard, but you lose three people (alleged drug traffickers) and save 25,000," he declared. According to The New York Times, Trump would have authorized the CIA to carry out operations in Venezuela as well as in the Caribbean, in an increase of its actions against the Government of Nicolás
Maduro, with a view to overthrowing him
.