Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has warned that his country is facing the biggest threat in 100 years, as the US has deployed military forces to the Caribbean in an operation targeting Latin American drug cartels.
Maduro believes that the US military build-up is aimed at overthrowing his government and is prepared to respond to any attacks from US forces.
“They are seeking a regime change through military threat,” Maduro told journalists. “Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.”
Maduro has pledged to declare a “republic in arms” if Venezuela were attacked, and has deployed troops along the country’s borders and called on citizens to join armed militias to defend the nation.
The US Navy currently has several ships in the Caribbean, including two Aegis guided-missile destroyers, a destroyer, and a cruiser, as well as a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine. According to Maduro, the US has sent “eight military ships with 1,200 missiles and a submarine targeting Venezuela”
The US has accused Maduro of having close connections to drug trafficking and criminal organizations throughout the region, claims for which it has failed to offer any evidence.
In August, the US doubled its reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest over allegations of his involvement in drug trafficking.
However, US media reported earlier this year that an internal intelligence memo concluded that there was no evidence linking Maduro to the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, undercutting a claim pushed publicly by Trump and his allies.
Despite his frequent use of rhetoric railing against the history of US intervention in Latin America, Maduro had previously expressed an interest in cooperating with the Trump administration in areas such as immigration enforcement.
However, the current tensions between the two countries are high, with Maduro insisting that he is the rightful ruler of Venezuela after winning a strongly contested 2024 election.
The opposition has maintained that they were the true winners of that election, and neither the US nor most regional governments have recognised Maduro’s victory.
The situation in Venezuela has significant implications for the region, with many countries watching closely to see how the US will respond to Maduro’s defiance.
The US deployment of military forces to the Caribbean has raised concerns about the potential for military conflict, and Maduro’s pledge to declare a “republic in arms” has heightened tensions.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US and Venezuela will navigate this complex and volatile situation.