Maduro Claims Eight US Warships With 1,200 Missiles Target Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of posing an unprecedented military threat to Venezuela, claiming that eight US warships equipped with 1,200 missiles and a submarine are targeting his country. Maduro described this as the greatest threat Latin America has faced in the past century and declared Venezuela in a state of maximum readiness to defend itself, mobilizing millions of reservists and increasing patrols of territorial waters. The US government, which has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, has deployed naval forces to the southern Caribbean as part of an anti-drug trafficking operation but has not publicly indicated any intention to invade Venezuela. Maduro condemned the breakdown of communication with the US and vowed that Venezuela would not succumb to blackmail or threats, while also rejecting US accusations against his leadership. The deployment has been perceived as a security measure by regional players such as Guyana, amid ongoing territorial disputes with Venezuela. Maduro emphasized the resilience of Venezuela's government and people against what he termed imperialist aggression, framing the US actions as an attempt to undermine his administration and the country's sovereignty.