The CIA is playing a key role in the Trump administration’s controversial airstrikes against boats in the Caribbean suspected of carrying drugs from Venezuela. These operations use intelligence mainly gathered by the CIA, which remains largely secret. Experts note that this secrecy raises ethical concerns about the use of lethal force without transparency.
President Trump confirmed last week that he authorized covert CIA actions in Venezuela but didn’t specify the details. Sources indicate that the CIA uses real-time intelligence from satellites and signal intercepts to identify target boats, while the actual attacks are executed by the U.S. military.
One source emphasized the CIA’s importance in these operations. Unlike other agencies, like the DEA or Coast Guard, the CIA’s intelligence is not intended for use as legal evidence. Former CIA official Mark Lowenthal remarked, “We do not produce evidence. We have intelligence,” which is often not publicly shareable.
Concerns grow as the information used for targeting boats is likely to remain classified, despite public interest in these strikes. The only glimpses released so far are grainy videos of boats being destroyed, primarily shared by Trump or the Pentagon.
Increasingly, CIA officials aim to bolster their influence on U.S. foreign policy within the region. As military operations intensify, the White House has not clarified the legal basis for these strikes, which experts argue may violate international laws against targeting civilians. Yale law professor Harold Koh stated that there is no authority for such lethal actions against non-combatants at sea, especially since there are alternatives, like apprehension.
Public reactions include concerns about the implications of these strikes on international law and human rights. Many worry about the potential for collateral damage and whether these tactics could escalate conflicts.
For a closer look at the intersection of intelligence and military action, see more insights from experts like Tim Weiner.
