Maduro Denounces U.S. Military Buildup in Caribbean Amid Escalating Tensions

President Nicolás Maduro has vociferously vowed to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty, following a significant escalation of tensions with the United States over the deployment of U.S. warships in the Caribbean. Speaking late Friday, Maduro directly appealed to then-President Donald Trump for dialogue, stressing the urgency of avoiding a potential conflict.

His remarks came just three days after the Trump administration confirmed a U.S. strike in the Caribbean, which reportedly sank a vessel allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, involved in drug smuggling to the U.S. The incident resulted in 11 fatalities and has been met with skepticism and strong condemnation from Caracas.

“Venezuela is always ready for dialogue, but we demand respect,” Maduro declared during a speech at a military base in Caracas. “None of our differences justify a high-impact military conflict in South America.” The strike has sent ripples of concern across Latin America, a region with a history of suffering the repercussions of past American military interventions.

Dressed in military camouflage, Maduro oversaw a ceremony where he ordered the mobilization of civilian militias, warning of an “armed struggle” should any attack occur. Washington has deployed over 4,000 troops and naval assets to the region, officially stating the move targets Latin American drug cartels. Despite U.S. officials not explicitly suggesting a ground incursion into Venezuela, Maduro has fiercely denounced the military buildup as a direct threat of invasion.

He further accused the U.S. of fabricating drug-trafficking allegations as a pretext for regime change, highlighting Washington’s decision last month to double the reward for his arrest to $50 million. The specter of American intervention has long been a tactic employed by Maduro to consolidate domestic support amidst fluctuating political popularity within the South American nation.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.