Venezuela Warns U.S. Against Military Aggression

The atmosphere in Caracas is fraught with tension. On Thursday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López issued a stern warning to Washington: any military aggression by the United States would prompt a "national mobilization" from Venezuela. "I urge them not to make a miscalculation in choosing to militarily attack the Venezuelan people. Do not make that mistake. Think carefully, conduct thorough investigations, and understand the national spirit," Padrino declared on state-run VTV, while accusing the U.S. of provocatively deploying F-35 aircraft and warships in the Caribbean.

Padrino criticized the presence of American aircraft stationed in Puerto Rico, which conduct flights near Venezuelan shores, labeling it a "provocation" that fails to intimidate Venezuelans. During his weekly televised report, he emphasized that the nation is prepared to convert "all national potential into national power" if attacked. "This could even lead to a national mobilization, depending on the scale of the aggression," he stated, as reported by EFE.

The Trump Administration's Military Strategy

Padrino's warnings came just before President Donald Trump informed Congress of the United States' involvement in a "non-international armed conflict" against drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations. As reported by Fox News and AP, this decision grants Trump war powers to deploy the military in operations that were previously under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies. Military actions have already occurred in the Caribbean, targeting vessels connected to Venezuelan organized crime, including an incident on September 2nd where a boat from the Tren de Aragua was destroyed, resulting in 11 fatalities.

The new legal framework allows the use of destroyers, submarines, and drones from Puerto Rico as part of the White House's strategy to curb drug trafficking, which, according to the memorandum, "kills tens of thousands of Americans each year."

Maduro and Cabello: Responding to a Century's Greatest Threat

Echoing Padrino, President Nicolás Maduro recently stated that Venezuela faces "the greatest threat in a hundred years," after alleging that eight U.S. military ships and a nuclear submarine are targeting the country. "This will not work with Venezuela. We will defend our sovereignty, our dignity, and the peace of our people," Maduro warned during a press conference. He also called on the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to condemn Washington's military maneuvers, while admitting the diplomatic channels with the U.S. remain "damaged."

Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello, the Interior Minister and a pivotal figure in the chavista regime, publicly acknowledged that Caracas is "preparing for the worst" in light of the U.S. naval encirclement. He highlighted the activation of thousands of civilian militiamen and a military build-up in the Caribbean under the "Relámpago del Catatumbo" operation.

This escalation follows the designation of the so-called Cartel of the Suns, led by Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Washington accuses the chavista regime of using state institutions to smuggle tons of cocaine into the U.S. Additionally, the Tren de Aragua has been declared a terrorist organization, with its leaders labeled as "specially designated global terrorists." The Trump administration is offering up to $5 million for information on its leader, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as "Niño Guerrero."

In response, Maduro's regime has launched massive recruitment drives for the Bolivarian Militia across 24 states, aiming to enlist thousands of Venezuelans into a force that, according to official figures, already exceeds four million members.