In a stunning revelation that exposes the volatile nature of Trump-era foreign policy, former President Donald Trump allegedly pressed CIA officials to orchestrate a maritime assault on Venezuela during his final year in office.
According to exclusive testimony from a former CIA officer, Trump repeatedly suggested the intelligence agency should deploy a boat-based strike force against the South American nation, pushing for aggressive military action that would bypass conventional diplomatic channels.
The Pressure Campaign
The former president's persistent demands created significant tension within intelligence circles, with officials reportedly growing increasingly concerned about the implications of such a provocative move. The proposed operation would have represented a dramatic escalation in US-Venezuela relations, potentially triggering widespread regional instability.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter confirm that Trump's fixation on Venezuela remained consistent throughout his presidency, but intensified during his final months in the White House as he sought to cement his foreign policy legacy.
Intelligence Community Resistance
CIA leadership and career officials repeatedly pushed back against the former president's suggestions, arguing that such an operation would violate international law and risk catastrophic consequences for regional security. The intelligence community's resistance highlights the ongoing tension between Trump's unconventional approach to foreign policy and established national security protocols.
This revelation comes at a sensitive time for US-Venezuela relations, with the Biden administration pursuing a markedly different diplomatic approach to the oil-rich nation currently grappling with economic collapse and political turmoil.
Broader Implications
The alleged incident raises serious questions about:
- The proper boundaries between intelligence operations and military action
- Executive power in authorising covert operations
- The long-term impact on US credibility in Latin America
- Oversight mechanisms for presidential decision-making on national security matters
As both current and former administration officials remain tight-lipped about the specific details, this disclosure adds another layer to the complex legacy of Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.
