Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro strongly condemned the United States' military buildup in the Caribbean, calling it a direct threat to national sovereignty and an attempt to seize the country's rich hydrocarbon and precious metal reserves. In his statement, made amid escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington, Maduro emphasized that the American actions have nothing to do with combating drug trafficking, but rather pursue selfish goals related to control of resources that Venezuela considers a strategic asset.

Maduro's statement came after recent US military maneuvers in the region, where the US Navy deployed eight missile-armed ships, several reconnaissance aircraft, and a nuclear submarine. Washington officials attributed these measures to the need to disrupt drug cartels, but the Venezuelan president dismissed such arguments as "Hollywood stories" designed to disguise his true intentions. Specifically, Maduro linked the increased presence to recent strikes on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean Sea, which killed dozens, and warned of readiness for "armed struggle" in the event of further aggression.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, a close ally of Maduro, stepped up her rhetoric, declaring a possible state of emergency in the event of a U.S. invasion. She called accusations of Caracas's involvement in drug trafficking a "big lie" and attributed pressure from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a desire to seize oil, gas, gold, and minerals.