Donald Trump confirmed reports on Wednesday that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

The New York Times first reported the classified directive, citing US officials familiar with the decision.

The US president said he authorized the action for two main reasons.

First, he claimed Venezuela had been releasing large numbers of prisoners, including individuals from mental health facilities, into the United States, often crossing the border due to what he described as an open border policy. Trump did not specify which border they were crossing.

The second reason, he said, was the large amount of drugs entering the US from Venezuela, much of it trafficked by sea.

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“I think Venezuela is feeling heat,” Trump added, but declined to answer when asked if the CIA had the authority to execute Maduro.