Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez on Sunday declared that the country is prepared to defend itself against “any attack” from the United States, warning Washington against military intervention as tensions rise over naval deployments in the Caribbean.
“We will fight if you dare to set foot in Venezuela,” Padrino Lopez said in a statement broadcast by state-run media. He accused the United States of attempting to provoke internal unrest and undermine Venezuela’s political leadership through “shows of force” and economic pressure.
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The remarks come after the U.S. military deployed warships to the Caribbean earlier this month, an operation Washington has described as part of its strategy to combat international drug cartels. Caracas, however, views the maneuvers as a direct threat. “The announcement of these naval deployments in Caribbean waters is nothing more than a show of force, a way of marking territory, so that other powers will not take control of the Caribbean Sea,” Padrino Lopez said.
Venezuelan Military Mobilization
In response, Venezuelan authorities have stepped up defense measures across the country. The Armed Forces have intensified patrols along maritime borders and in national airspace, while President Nicolas Maduro has called for strengthening the Bolivarian National Militia — a civilian reserve force aligned with the government.
Padrino Lopez confirmed that 15,000 troops have been deployed to Venezuela’s western region, which borders Colombia. He also pointed to ongoing domestic operations aimed at dismantling organized crime networks, claiming that security forces have destroyed more than 30 criminal outposts and illegal boat-building facilities linked to drug trafficking in recent weeks.
Regional Reactions and Criticism of U.S. Maneuvers
The U.S. deployment has drawn criticism from several Latin American leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who warned that heightened military activity in the Caribbean risks destabilizing the region further. Both leaders have urged dialogue and restraint, emphasizing regional cooperation over confrontation.
Analysts note that U.S. military moves in the Caribbean have historically been a point of friction with Venezuela. Washington has long accused Caracas of failing to curb drug trafficking through its territory, while the Maduro government contends that the United States uses such allegations as a pretext to exert pressure and justify sanctions.
Strained U.S.–Venezuela Relations
Relations between Caracas and Washington have been fraught for years, marked by sanctions, accusations of electoral fraud, and disputes over oil exports. The U.S. does not officially recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, instead backing opposition figure Juan Guaidó during Venezuela’s political crisis in 2019. Although international recognition of Guaidó has since diminished, the rift between Washington and Caracas remains deep.
Recent attempts at limited engagement — including discussions over sanctions relief tied to democratic reforms — have faltered, leaving relations in a state of hostility. Padrino Lopez’s latest remarks underscore Caracas’s determination to portray U.S. actions as imperial interference.
A Region on Edge
The renewed tensions come at a fragile moment for Venezuela, which is grappling with a prolonged economic crisis, hyperinflation, and mass emigration. Observers warn that heightened militarization in the Caribbean could complicate humanitarian conditions and regional stability.
“The scale of these deployments and the rhetoric surrounding them reflect an increasingly adversarial dynamic,” said a regional security analyst. “While neither side appears eager for open conflict, the risk of miscalculation remains.”
For now, Venezuela has vowed to stand firm. “We are defending our sovereignty, our independence, and our people,” Padrino Lopez said. “No foreign power will intimidate us.”
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