US President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed authorising the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, signalling a sharp escalation in American pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

The New York Times first reported the classified directive, citing US officials familiar with the decision, saying the Trump administration’s Venezuela strategy aims to remove Maduro from power. The administration has offered $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest and conviction on drug trafficking charges.

The new authority would allow the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and conduct a range of operations in the Caribbean, the Times reported.

Asked why he authorized the CIA to operate in Venezuela, Trump told reporters his reasons were migration of

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