The United States has intensified its pressure on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump authorizing new covert operations and positioning the largest U.S. aircraft carrier in the Caribbean, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Trump has signed off on CIA plans for covert measures inside Venezuela, which officials say could be designed to prepare the ground for potential future action. Details of the operations remain classified, and it is unclear when or how they might be executed.

At the same time, the administration has pursued a parallel track of back-channel negotiations with the Venezuelan government. Sources indicate that President Nicolás Maduro at one point offered to step down after a delay of a few years, a proposal that was ultimately rejected by the White House.

Officials stressed that no U.S. combat forces have been authorized to enter Venezuela, leaving the next phase of the pressure campaign focused on non-kinetic options. These could include sabotage, cyber operations, psychological campaigns, or information operations designed to weaken the Maduro government.

The deployment of the aircraft carrier signals Washington’s readiness to project military power in the region, even as diplomatic and covert efforts continue. Analysts say the combination of military positioning, covert operations, and negotiations reflects a multi-pronged strategy aimed at increasing pressure on Caracas without immediate direct conflict.

The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the specifics of the CIA operations or the status of the back-channel negotiations, citing national security concerns. (ILKHA)