Maduro Rejects U.S. Warship Deployment, Declares Venezuela ‘Impenetrable’

CARACAS:Tensions are rising in the Caribbean as Venezuela and the United States face off over Washington’s deployment of warships to the region. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday dismissed the move, declaring his country “impenetrable” to foreign military forces.

Speaking at a military ceremony in Caracas, dressed in uniform, Maduro directly addressed the possibility of U.S. intervention. “There is no way for them to enter Venezuela,” he said, describing the buildup as harassment and a violation of the UN Charter. He insisted that mounting pressure from Washington would only strengthen his government.

“After 20 days of uninterrupted blockade, we are stronger than yesterday,” Maduro added, emphasizing that Venezuela’s domestic and international support has grown. He also thanked Colombian President Gustavo Petro for deploying 25,000 troops to the Catatumbo region, describing it as a joint defense effort to safeguard regional peace.

The U.S. deployment comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing a broad military operation against Latin American drug traffickers. The naval task force includes a submarine, seven warships, and potentially up to 4,000 Marines, according to CNN.

Earlier this month, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and senior commanders pledged to defend the nation’s sovereignty, with Maduro declaring that “no empire” would ever set foot on Venezuelan or South American soil.

Washington has accused Maduro of involvement in cocaine trafficking and links to drug cartels, doubling its reward for his capture from $25 million to $50 million. It also offered $25 million for the arrest of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Maduro, however, rejected the allegations outright, accusing the U.S. of attempting to provoke regime change under the guise of a drug war.