Venezuela Condemns U.S. Naval Buildup, Warns of Regional Escalation

CARACAS, Aug. 30 (Reuters) - Venezuela’s government issued a stark warning on Saturday after Washington dispatched multiple warships to the southern Caribbean, characterizing the U.S. deployment as a direct threat to its sovereignty and Latin American stability.

In an official statement, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez thanked Russia’s foreign ministry for publicly backing Venezuela’s stance and denounced the presence of U.S. naval forces as “hostile aggression” designed to undermine Caracas. Citing the Pentagon’s announcement that seven warships, including guided-missile destroyers and at least one nuclear-powered submarine, along with 4,500 personnel would be operating off Venezuela’s coast, Rodríguez vowed that any military action against Venezuela would trigger a forceful response “to defend our homeland and protect peace in the region”.

The criticism follows U.S. assertions that the naval task force is part of an intensified anti-drug trafficking operation targeting Latin American cartels, including those allegedly linked to President Nicolás Maduro. Washington has labeled Maduro a “fugitive head of a drug cartel” and placed a $50 million bounty on information leading to his capture, further inflaming tensions between the two governments.

Maduro, flanked by top military officials, reiterated his pledge to mobilize militia forces and deploy additional troops along the Colombian border, asserting that Venezuela is “prepared and determinate” to repel any incursion. He accused the U.S. of employing “psychological warfare” via media outlets and social networks to justify potential intervention, and called upon regional partners to denounce the “imperialist campaign” against Caracas.

Observers warn that the confrontation risks sparking broader instability in the Caribbean, where migration pressures and narcotics trafficking already pose significant challenges. With both sides entrenching their positions, diplomatic channels remain open but strained, leaving the prospect of a negotiated de-escalation uncertain as Saturday’s warnings set the stage for a tense standoff at sea.