Venezuelan Government Warns Armed Response to US Caribbean Military Buildup

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the increasing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean as an "extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat" and has vowed to respond with armed resistance if attacked. Maduro and his Defense Minister warned that Venezuela is at "maximum preparedness," having deployed troops along its coasts and borders, and called on citizens to join a civilian militia to defend against what they describe as U.S. aggression. The Trump administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has intensified its anti-narcotics operations in the region, including lethal strikes on drug cartels linked to Venezuela, and has signaled a commitment to act against these groups even on Venezuelan soil. Despite aggressive rhetoric, Maduro acknowledged ongoing diplomatic backchannel contacts and appealed to Trump’s desire to avoid war, while accusing Rubio of pushing for conflict that could stain Trump's legacy. The U.S. has deployed warships, destroyers, and thousands of personnel to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean, though no land invasion has been announced. Maduro insists he is Venezuela’s legitimate president and portrays U.S. actions as attempts to impose regime change, which he says have failed worldwide.