U.S. President Donald Trump is said to be considering using the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to intensify espionage operations against drug cartels in Mexico, including surveillance of the Mexican government. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the aim is to align the agency with Trump's priorities, such as the fight against organized crime and trade policies.
A spokesperson for the CIA quoted by the WSJ mentioned the intention to "infuse the agency with renewed energy" with a greater focus on the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, it is proposed that the CIA could spy on the Mexican government amid the ongoing trade dispute, as well as play a key role in the fight against drug cartels, designated by Trump as terrorist groups since the beginning of his term.
In recent years, the CIA has focused its operations on nations like China, considered a long-term primary threat to the United States. However, the current administration seeks to broaden its focus to Latin America. Although there were tensions between Trump and the CIA during his first term, certain intelligence officials valued the freedom they had to conduct covert operations against U.S. enemies.
Recently, the Senate intelligence panel narrowly approved the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, a position that oversees 18 security agencies. However, Gabbard's confirmation is still pending a vote from the full Senate. It is important to note that after the events of September 11, the agency underwent a significant transformation, turning much of its staff into a paramilitary force capable of carrying out lethal operations with drones.
