Maduro promises to declare a

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday he said that “would constitutionally declare a Republic of Arms” if the South American country was attacked by the forces that the The United States government has deployed To the Caribbean.

Maduro said that eight American military ships “with 1,200 missiles” were attacking their country, calling them “the greatest threat that has been seen in our continent in the last 100 years,” News said.

Their comments during a press conference arrive when the United States government this week is ready to boost its Maritime Force in the waters of Venezuela To combat the threats of Latin American drug cartels. The United States has not indicated any incursion of planned lands by the thousands of personnel that are being deployed. Even so, the Maduro government has He responded displaying troops Throughout his coast and border with neighbor Colombia, as well as when Venezuelans urge to enlist in a civil militia.

“Given this maximum military pressure, we have declared the maximum preparation for the defense of Venezuela,” Maduro said about deployment, which characterized “an extravagant threat, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody.”

The US Navy now has two guided missile destroyers The USS seriously and the USON Dunham – In the Caribbean, as well as the destroyer uss Sampson and the cruise USS Lake Erie In the waters of Latin America. That military presence is scheduled to expand.

Three Anfibio assault ships, a force that covers more than 4,000 sailors and marines, would enter the region this week, a defense official told News about the condition of anonymity to describe the ongoing operations.

The deployment occurs when President Trump has pressed for using the military to frustrate the posters to which he blames the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs to the US communities and for perpetuating violence in some US cities.

Washington accused Maduro of leading a drug sign and Doubled the reward for its capture at $ 50 million. However, the United States has not made a public threat to invade Venezuela.

Trump has directed the Pentagon To use military force Against Latin American drug cartels considered terrorist organizations, a source familiar with the confirmed issue to News themezone earlier this month.

Of the eight Latin American drug trafficking groups that the Trump administration has designated as terrorist organizationsone is Venezuelan. It is not clear if the military could take measures or when.

On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, citing a United Nations report, told his counterparts in several Latin American countries that the deployment of the United States maritime forces is based on a “false narrative” such as 87% of cocaine produced in Colombia is directed through the Pacific and traffickers try to move only 5% of their product through Venezuela. Bolivia without a coast and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and the Caribbean, are the main cocaine producers in the world.

Gil added that the narration “threatens the entire region” and an attack against Venezuela “would really mean a complete destabilization of the region.”

“We immediately demand the end of this deployment, which has no other reason than threatening a sovereign people,” he added during a virtual meeting of members of the United States community and the regional group of Latin American and the Caribbean states.

Maduro also used his press conference to insist that he was the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential elections. But broad and credible evidence has demonstrated otherwise, which leads to several countries, including the United States, not to recognize Maduro as the president of Venezuela.

Maduro swore a third period of six years in January, added that his government maintains two lines of communication with the Trump administration, one with the State Department and another with Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. He called the Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “lord of war” who pushed action in the Caribbean to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

Since the presidential elections of July 2024, Venezuela’s political opposition has been urging the United States and other countries to press Maduro to leave the position. Last month, its leader, María Corina Machado, thanked Mr. Trump and Rubio for the deployment of ships, describing the movement as “the right approach” towards the Venezuelan government, which she described as a “criminal company.”

Maduro on Monday, however, warned that US military action against Venezuela “would stain” the “hands with blood” of Mr. Trump.

“President Donald Trump, the search for regime change is exhausted; has failed as a policy worldwide,” Maduro said. “You cannot pretend to impose a situation in Venezuela.”

• Nicolas Maduro
• Venezuela