Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez warned on Thursday (October 23, 2025) against any operation by the United States on the country’s territory, stressing that any covert action by the CIA would fail.
The warning came following a recent speech by US President Donald Trump, in which he announced that he had authorized covert CIA operations against Venezuela and was considering ground attacks against drug cartels in the country.
Trump has described Venezuela as a major route for drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
“We are aware of the CIA presence in Venezuela and the country’s armed forces have activated defense protocols,” Padrino Lopez said in a statement in Caracas.
The warning is part of growing tensions between Caracas and Washington, which include the deployment of 20,000 Venezuelan troops in the west of the country, the deployment of US warships to the Caribbean Sea and recent anti-smuggling operations.
