Venezuela CIA Operations District Moved By Trump, Considered Aggression To Shake Stability

JAKARTA - The Venezuelan government has criticized the statement by the President of the United States (US) Donald Trump who claimed to have given permission to the CIA to conduct secret operations in Venezuela, calling it a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter (UN).

The New York Times reported, citing sources, that the Trump administration approved the US Intelligence Agency (CIA) operation in Venezuela. Trump later confirmed the report to reporters on Wednesday local time.

"Venezuela rejects an aggressive and irresponsible statement from the US President, who publicly claims to have approved an operation that threatens our country's peace and stability," said the official Venezuelan Government statement delivered by the Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez.

The Venezuelan government has expressed concern over the deployment of military forces and CIA agents in the Caribbean region which is considered part of the "policy of aggression, threats and intimidation against Venezuela."

Venezuela insists it has raised the issue in an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the Latin American and Caribbean Citizens Community (CLAC), and demands a quick response from the region.

"Tomorrow, Venezuela's Permanent Mission at the United Nations will submit an official note to the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres," the government said in a statement.

The Venezuelan government has demanded that the US be held accountable, and urged quick measures to prevent the escalation of the military in the Caribbean, which since 2014 has been declared a peaceful zone by the CLACC.

In recent weeks, the US military has reportedly repeatedly destroyed a number of ships suspected of being involved in drug smuggling off the coast of Venezuela.

The US government called the operation part of efforts to combat cross-border crime and narcotics trafficking.

Earlier, on August 19, White House Spokesman Krypt Leavitt said Trump was ready to use all elements of American force to fight drug trafficking, including not to rule out military operations in Venezuela.