WASHINGTON — The day after Christmas is typically quiet in the nation’s capital. But President Trump’s decision to acknowledge a covert U.S. strike on Venezuelan territory, in an interview with an obscure local news outlet on Friday, set off a scramble in a drowsy Washington that has become a hallmark of the president.
Officials working on Latin america policy for the management closely tracked reports of refinery fires and othre events throughout Venezuela. They couldn’t immediately identify the target the president referenced, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Trump later specified the strike targeted a “dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.” this initial confusion within his own government highlights how few individuals within the West Wing are deciding whether to escalate tensions toward war with Caracas.
Trump initially confirmed authorizing CIA actions in Venezuela in October. While the administration must report covert CIA operations to Congress, stronger congressional authorization is needed for military force.
“I authorized for two reasons,” Trump said. “Frist, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of america. Second, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and much of it arrives by sea.”
This strike occurs as Venezuelan authorities have increased the number of U.S. citizens they detain. Caracas had previously freed 17 Americans and permanent residents held in Venezuelan prisons during the start of the Trump administration.
Evan Ellis, who planned State Department policy on Latin America and the Caribbean during Trump’s first term, believes the situation is precarious. He suggests the administration is highly likely operating with limited information and a high degree of risk.
