In a bold statement, Nicolás Maduro has escalated his rhetoric against what he perceives as an unparalleled military threat from the United States. During a press conference on Monday, the Venezuelan leader declared that his nation is confronting "the greatest threat it has faced in a century," pointing to the deployment of U.S. military forces in the southern Caribbean, close to Venezuela's shores.
"Eight military ships, armed with 1,200 missiles, along with a nuclear submarine are targeting Venezuela," Maduro stated, visibly angered by what he described as an excessive provocation from the U.S. government.
Extravagant and Violent Threat
Maduro characterized the deployment as "an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral, criminal, and bloody threat." He accused Washington of attempting to push the confrontation to a point of no return, through what he termed "maximum military pressure."
"They have sought to advance towards maximum military pressure, and we have declared maximum readiness to defend Venezuela," Maduro asserted. He framed the situation within a broader strategy of a failed hybrid war against his nation, which he claims has now shifted to direct military action.
"Having defeated all forms of hybrid warfare against our country, they have opted for the worst mistake: maximum pressure," he stated.
Unyielding Stance Against Threats
Despite the severity of his accusations, Maduro emphasized that Venezuela will not succumb to external threats or coercion. "We will never yield to threats and blackmail. The U.S. government has concocted a mess with an entire country," he denounced.
Dialogue with the U.S.: Strained but Ongoing
During the press session, Maduro addressed the current state of communication channels between Caracas and Washington. He acknowledged that while dialogue exists, it is "strained" and "damaged." He mentioned two specific channels.
The first involves John McNamara, the Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the U.S. External Office for Venezuela, who was present during a prisoner exchange between the two countries. "On that day we spoke. McNamara, when he spoke with me, melted and began to stutter," Maduro recounted. "I treated him with dignity and respect, and he treated me with a lot of respect, with special deference," he added.
The second channel involves former ambassador and special envoy of the Trump administration, Richard Grenell, who visited Caracas earlier this year and met with the Venezuelan president.
Maduro criticized what he termed "gunboat diplomacy," where military threats are used as diplomatic pressure. "They place 1,200 missiles and tell you to accept this. That doesn't work with us. Even if they put 10,000 missiles over our heads, it won't work," he warned emphatically.
He also issued a direct warning to Donald Trump, urging caution regarding his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. "Beware of Marco Rubio, who wants to stain his hands with blood through a massacre against the Venezuelan people," he alerted.
Regional Diplomatic Movements
The increasing tension has prompted diplomatic actions in the region. On Monday, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers in response to the U.S. military buildup in Caribbean waters. Several regional governments expressed concern over the possibility of a military operation against Maduro and other top officials of the Venezuelan regime.
The Venezuelan delegation, led by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, denounced at CELAC that "the U.S. narrative about the military deployment is completely false," and called for a firm condemnation and the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Venezuelan coasts.
Criticism from Opposition and Media
Simultaneously, critical voices have emerged from the opposition sector. Venezuelan journalist Emmanuel Rincón referred to the Maduro government's complaints as a sign of weakness. "Maduro's tyranny appeared crying at CELAC, denouncing that there are U.S. military assets that could be used in an invasion off the coast of Venezuela and demanding their withdrawal," he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Menoni, another journalist and open opponent of the Chavista regime, stated: "In total panic, Maduro's foreign minister, Yván Gil, rejected as 'completely false' the U.S. narrative about the military deployment in the Caribbean and asked CELAC to condemn the incursion and demand the withdrawal of those forces from Venezuelan coasts. They are scared!"
Final Firm Stance: "This Won't Work with Venezuela"
In his closing remarks, Maduro reiterated that his country will not accept pressure or impositions from foreign powers, regardless of the scale of the deployed arsenal. "This won't work with Venezuela. We will know how to defend our sovereignty, our dignity, and the peace of our people," he concluded.
Understanding the Venezuela-U.S. Tensions
What is the current threat Venezuela is facing from the U.S.?
Venezuela claims it is facing a significant military threat from the U.S., involving eight military ships, 1,200 missiles, and a nuclear submarine positioned near its coasts.
How has Nicolás Maduro responded to the U.S. military presence?
Nicolás Maduro has heightened his rhetoric, declaring maximum readiness to defend Venezuela and accusing the U.S. of engaging in "extravagant" and "bloody" provocations.
What actions has CELAC taken in response to the situation?
CELAC held an urgent meeting of foreign ministers to address the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, with several regional governments expressing concern over potential military actions against Venezuela.