Maduro Condemns Alleged CIA-Backed ‘Coups’ After Trump Weighs Strikes on Venezuelan Cartels

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday denounced what he described as “coups d’état orchestrated by the CIA,” shortly after US President Donald Trump said he was considering launching strikes on Venezuelan cartels operating on land.

“No to war in the Caribbean… No to regime change… No to coups d’état orchestrated by the CIA,” Maduro declared during an address to a national security committee convened after Washington deployed warships to the Caribbean for what it called an anti-drug operation.

Trump said earlier on Wednesday that he was weighing land strikes following a series of deadly maritime attacks that sank Venezuelan boats allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking. At least 27 people have been killed in the US-led Caribbean operations so far.

Following another reported strike, Maduro announced new military exercises across Venezuela’s largest shantytowns and ordered the mobilization of the armed forces, police, and civilian militias to defend the country’s “mountains, coasts, schools, hospitals, factories, and markets.”

Trump has accused Maduro and his allies of running a “narcoterrorist” network, though he has not presented evidence. The United States has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, doubling the bounty in August.

Maduro, who remains in power despite widespread international criticism, has been accused of rigging last year’s presidential election to maintain control.