Maduro declares US has ‘no chance’ of invading Venezuela after Washington sends warships

CARACAS, Aug 29 — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared yesterday that there was “no way” US forces could invade his country, following Washington’s deployment of five warships and 4,000 troops to the Caribbean in what it described as an anti-drug trafficking mission.

In response, Venezuela has dispatched its own warships and drones to patrol its coastline while launching a campaign to recruit thousands of militia members to strengthen national defense.

“They cannot enter Venezuela,” Maduro insisted, pledging the country was fully prepared to safeguard its “peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The United States has made no public threat of invasion.

Maduro, who claimed a disputed third term in the July 2024 elections, has long been a target of US President Donald Trump, dating back to Trump’s first term in office. Since returning to power in January, Trump has focused his attacks on Venezuela’s powerful gangs, some of which he says operate inside the US.

Washington accuses Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel de los Soles, a cocaine trafficking network labeled a terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The US recently doubled its reward for Maduro’s capture to US$50 million to face drug charges.

Maduro, who took office in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez, has accused Trump of seeking regime change in Venezuela. — AFP