Donald Trump is hoping to break apart Venezuela’s political elite and push Nicolás Maduro out of power with his threat to invade the South American country, experts have told The i Paper .

Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, the US President confirmed he had authorised the CIA, America’s foreign intelligence agency, to conduct secret operations inside Venezuela , which has been governed by Maduro since 2013.

The unusual admission came after the US staged a series of deadly air strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea in recent weeks, which have killed 27 people. At least six strikes are believed to have been carried out, with the latest occurring on Thursday. New Feature

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