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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned what he described as a coup attempt organized by the CIA and accused the US government of provoking war in the Caribbean.

Maduro’s comments came shortly after President Donald Trump said he was considering a ground operation against Venezuelan gangs. At a White House press conference, Trump said, “We are definitely considering ground operations because we have strong control at sea.”

However, he did not confirm the accuracy of a New York Times report claiming that the CIA had secretly been authorized to attack Maduro’s government. “That’s a ridiculous question — or rather, it wouldn’t be ridiculous if I answered it,” Trump said.

US warships and jets are deployed in the Caribbean to combat drug traffickers. In American military raids on small boats that Trump claimed were carrying drug shipments, at least 27 people were killed. However, there is no evidence supporting this, and experts question the legality of such operations in international waters.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he believes some of the victims were his own citizens. Following yesterday’s attack, Maduro announced increased military, police, and civilian activity along Venezuela’s coasts and the Colombian border.