Maduro vows to declare a "republic in arms" if U.S. forces in the Caribbean attack Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said he "would constitutionally declare a republic in arms" if the South American country were attacked by forces that the United States government has deployed to the Caribbean.

Maduro claimed eight U.S. military vessels "with 1,200 missiles" were targeting his country, calling them "the greatest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years," AFP reported.


His comments during a news conference come as the U.S. government this week is set to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, Maduro's government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

"In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela," Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as "an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat."

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maduro-venezuela-us-troops-caribbean/