Maduro mobilizes troops and calls on the population after the advance of US vessels in the Caribbean

The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced this Friday (17) the mobilization of troops and civilians in the face of the advance of United States military vessels in the Caribbean. The measure, according to the Venezuelan government, is a direct response to US actions considered “provocations” and “threats to national sovereignty”.

In a statement broadcast on state television, Maduro stated: “We put it in the hands of the people, in the hands of the people, because the people are the ones who will be called upon to reject any aggression.” The Venezuelan leader accused Donald Trump’s government of “advancing in the Caribbean with its vessels”, which he classified as an attempt at intimidation. “They believe they can threaten Venezuela, but here there are people willing to defend their homeland until the last consequences,” he declared.

According to Venezuelan military authorities, Armed Forces units have been deployed to the country’s northern coast and remain on alert. The Ministry of Defense reported that radars and surveillance systems are monitoring “the presence of foreign vessels in international waters close to Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone.”

The United States government, in turn, stated that its operations in the Caribbean aim to combat drug trafficking and dismantle smuggling networks. However, Caracas denounces that the actions are part of a military escalation to destabilize the Venezuelan regime and weaken Maduro’s power.

Tension intensified after the newspaper The New York Times reveal that Donald Trump authorized “secret and lethal operations” by the CIA in Venezuela, allegedly aimed against the Chavista government. Washington accuses Maduro of leading the so-called “Cartel de los Soles”, a group that the US recently classified as a terrorist organization.

In response, Maduro said that “no foreign threat will stop the Venezuelan people from fighting for their independence.” The president also praised the role of popular militias, which have been trained by the government to act in the event of armed conflict. “This country belongs to the people. It is the people who defend, it is the people who protect, and it is the people who will win”, he stated.

Meanwhile, the international community is following the escalation of hostilities with concern. The United Nations (UN) and allied countries in Latin America called for restraint and dialogue. So far, neither Venezuela nor the United States have shown any signs of backing down.