Venezuela Warns US Attack Risks Regional Instability Amid Naval Deployment

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have escalated following the deployment of U.S. warships near Venezuela's coast, a move Washington says targets international drug cartels. Venezuelan officials, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, issued stern warnings, asserting that any U.S. military action would be met with fierce resistance and would destabilize the region. President Nicolás Maduro emphasized Venezuela's experience in combating drug trafficking and expressed willingness to coordinate anti-narcotics strategies with other Latin American countries on equal terms, criticizing foreign subjugation. The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Maduro, doubling the bounty on his head to $50 million due to alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Within Venezuela, citizens are grappling with uncertainty amid heightened military presence and political instability, striving to maintain normalcy despite fears of possible intervention. Regional leaders, such as Colombia's Gustavo Petro and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, have criticized U.S. military maneuvers, highlighting concerns about escalating tensions in the Caribbean.