Maduro general says Venezuela ready for US "attack"

 Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has declared that the country is ready to confront "any attack" from the United States as tensions escalate over Washington's military presence in the Caribbean.

His remarks, broadcast Sunday on state-run media, came amid growing friction between Caracas and Washington following U.S. President Donald Trump's deployment of American naval forces to the region for anti-cartel operations.

Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Venezuela's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The standoff reflects decades of strained relations between Venezuela and the U.S., marked by sanctions, political disputes, and accusations of interference. Washington has refused to recognize Nicolás Maduro's presidency since 2019, instead backing opposition leader Juan Guaidó at the time.

Venezuela, in turn, has accused the U.S. of attempting to orchestrate regime change. The military posturing now raises the risk of confrontation in a region already beset by instability.

What To Know

"We will fight if you dare to set foot in Venezuela," Padrino said, warning that Washington's deployments were a hostile act intended to provoke internal chaos and weaken Maduro's grip on power.

His statement was accompanied by a show of military readiness, as Venezuela has reinforced patrols along its maritime borders and airspace and deployed 15,000 troops to the western frontier with Colombia.

Separately, Maduro called for strengthening the Bolivarian National Militia, a civilian auxiliary force integrated into the armed forces, as part of a broader effort to rally nationalist support against external threats.

U.S. Naval Moves

The U.S. Navy has deployed the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Newport News, three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale, bringing roughly 4,500 personnel, including over 2,000 Marines, to waters near Venezuela as part of a counter-narcotics operation targeting regional drug cartels.

U.S. officials contend that Venezuela has become a key transit hub for cocaine shipments passing through the Caribbean on their way to North America and Europe. Caracas has consistently rejected those allegations, portraying them as a pretext to justify efforts to undermine Maduro's government.

Meanwhile, Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn posted a message on social media calling to "Make Venezuela Great Again" by capturing cartel leaders and freeing citizens from Maduro's rule.

Regional Pushback

The U.S. deployments have triggered criticism across Latin America. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Colombian President Gustavo Petro both expressed opposition to Washington's maneuvers in the Caribbean, warning they risk further escalating tensions in the region.

Their remarks reflect a broader concern among some Latin American leaders about the militarization of regional disputes and the possibility of foreign intervention.

What People Are Saying

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López: "We will fight if you dare to set foot in Venezuela."

Former U.S. national security advisor General Michael Flynn: "Let's Make Venezuela Great Again by capturing these terrorist group leaders. Get them off the streets and help the people of Venezuela have a vastly better life. The citizens of Venezuela don't deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!"

What Happens Next

The situation remains fluid as Venezuela mobilizes forces and Washington maintains its naval presence. While direct conflict appears unlikely, the ongoing deployments signal a deepening geopolitical rift that could draw in regional players and global powers with interests in the Caribbean.