Venezuela defense minister R Vladimir Padrino speaks on state TV

Venezuela defense minister R Vladimir Padrino speaks on state TV

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has declared that his country is ready to confront "any attack" from the United States as tensions escalate over Washington's military presence in the Caribbean. Padrino's remarks, broadcast on state-run media, came amid growing friction between Caracas and Washington following U.S. President Donald Trump's deployment of American naval forces to the region for anti-cartel operations [1].

Padrino's statement was accompanied by a show of military readiness, as Venezuela has reinforced patrols along its maritime borders and airspace and deployed 15,000 troops to the western frontier with Colombia. The minister also called for strengthening the Bolivarian National Militia, a civilian auxiliary force integrated into the armed forces, to bolster domestic defenses against external threats [2].

The U.S. Navy has deployed several ships, including the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Newport News, and three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, bringing roughly 4,500 personnel, including over 2,000 Marines, to waters near Venezuela as part of a counter-narcotics operation targeting regional drug cartels [2].

The U.S. official stated that the deployment was in response to concerns that some Venezuelans were participating in large-scale drug operations. However, Caracas has consistently rejected these allegations, portraying them as a pretext to justify efforts to undermine Maduro's government [1].

Meanwhile, former U.S. national security advisor Michael Flynn posted a message on social media calling to "Make Venezuela Great Again" by capturing cartel leaders and freeing citizens from Maduro's rule [2].

The situation remains fluid as Venezuela mobilizes forces and Washington maintains its naval presence. While direct conflict appears unlikely, the ongoing deployments signal a deepening geopolitical rift that could draw in regional players and global powers with interests in the Caribbean.

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/29/venezuelas-maduro-says-no-way-us-can-invade-as-trump-deploys-naval-force
[2] https://www.newsweek.com/venezuela-ready-united-states-attack-2122523