Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has issued a stark warning about the presence of U.S. military vessels near his country’s waters, stating he would constitutionally declare a “republic in arms” if Venezuela were attacked.
Maduro’s comments were made during a news conference where he claimed that eight U.S. military vessels, armed with 1,200 missiles, pose the “greatest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years,” according to AFP.
This statement comes as the U.S. government prepares to bolster its maritime force in the Caribbean, reportedly to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. While the U.S. has not indicated any planned land invasion, Maduro’s government is taking precautions by deploying troops along its coast and borders with Colombia, while also encouraging Venezuelans to join a civilian militia.
In response to what he termed “maximum military pressure,” Maduro announced that Venezuela is in a state of maximum preparedness for defense. He characterized the U.S. deployment as “extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody.”
Currently, the U.S. Navy has several warships in the Caribbean, including two Aegis guided-missile destroyers, the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham, along with the destroyer USS Sampson and the cruiser USS Lake Erie.
Reports indicate that additional forces, including three amphibious assault ships carrying over 4,000 sailors and Marines, are set to enter the region. The U.S. military presence is expanding against the backdrop of President Trump’s stance on utilizing military force to combat drug cartels, which he blames for the influx of fentanyl and associated violence in American cities.
Washington has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, increasing the bounty for his capture to $50 million. However, the U.S. government has not issued any public threats regarding an invasion of Venezuela.
Inside the Trump administration, discussions have centered around the military’s role against Latin American drug trafficking organizations designated as terrorist groups, with one of them being Venezuelan. The timeline for any potential military action remains uncertain.
During a meeting with various Latin American counterparts, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the rationale behind U.S. maritime forces’ deployment, citing a UN report that shows the bulk of cocaine production in Colombia is channeled through the Pacific rather than through Venezuela.
Gil claimed that this “false narrative” threatens regional stability and urged his counterparts to demand an end to what he called a deployment aimed at intimidating a sovereign nation.
As political tensions rise, Maduro has reaffirmed his stance as the legitimate president of Venezuela, despite international claims to the contrary regarding last year’s presidential election results.
Having been sworn into a third six-year term in January, Maduro stated his administration maintains lines of communication with the Trump administration, including one with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he labeled a “warlord” advocating for intervention to overturn his government.
The Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado, has been vocal in urging the U.S. and other nations to increase pressure on Maduro. In a recent statement, she expressed gratitude to Mr. Trump and Rubio for their military deployment, calling it the “right approach” toward addressing the government’s alleged criminal activities.
Maduro responded with a strong warning against military action, suggesting it would lead to bloodshed under President Trump’s command.
He declared, “President Donald Trump, the pursuit of regime change is exhausted; it has failed as a policy worldwide. You cannot pretend to impose a situation in Venezuela.”
This declaration from Maduro comes amid growing concerns over regional stability as both the U.S. and Venezuela appear to be on a collision course concerning military actions and their implications.
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