CARACAS — President Nicolás Maduro announced on Friday that Venezuela is stepping up efforts to protect its sovereignty amid rising tensions with the United States over the deployment of warships in the Caribbean. Despite these tensions, he urged President Donald Trump to engage in dialogue to prevent potential conflict in the region.
Dressed in military attire, Maduro addressed a gathering where he mobilized what he claimed were millions of citizens to join militias—voluntary armed civilians—to support the military and defend the nation. “Today, we are taking a significant step. A step for all of Venezuela to unite in defending our right to peace and independence,” he declared. This statement came three days after the Trump administration reported an attack on a drug-laden vessel linked to a Venezuelan gang, suggesting a surge in military activity in the area.
While U.S. forces are deploying over 4,000 personnel to the region, the Maduro government perceives this as a potential invasion threat. Maduro called on Venezuelans to enlist in the militias as a means of deterrence. He contended that the tensions stem from “false” narcotics accusations and urged the U.S. to abandon its alleged plans for violent regime change in Venezuela.
He reiterated his call for dialogue, emphasizing that Venezuela has always been open to conversations but demands respect for its sovereignty. “We will continue to defend Venezuela’s truth at any cost,” he stated at Fort Tiuna, the largest military installation in the country.
Maduro accused Washington of trying to create a false narrative around narcotrafficking to justify attacks on Venezuela and undermine its institutions. The situation has escalated since Trump ordered the deployment of U.S. warships to Caribbean waters, which officials claim is aimed at combating threats from Latin American drug cartels.
Additionally, the Trump administration recently increased the reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, labeling him one of the world’s top drug traffickers. “I respect Trump. We’ve had and still have differences, but none of those should lead to military conflict in South America. That would be unjustified,” he insisted.
