Maduro condemns potential US military strikes against Venezuelan drug cartels, alleging involvement of the CIA in regime change efforts.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed a committee on Wednesday to counter what he termed "coups d'état orchestrated by the CIA" shortly after US President
Donald Trump announced consideration of land-based strikes against Venezuelan drug cartels.
The leftist leader emphasized his opposition to war in the Caribbean, regime change, and any attempt at coups d'état linked to foreign intervention.
This statement came following Washington's deployment of warships in the Caribbean for an alleged anti-drug operation.Trump has been contemplating attacking Venezuelan drug trafficking on land after a series of deadly naval strikes that have resulted in the loss of at least 27 lives, according to reports.
These incidents involved the sinking of boats suspected of carrying narcotics.
Maduro responded to these developments by ordering military exercises in the largest shantytowns of the country and mobilizing the military, police, and civilian militia to defend key national assets such as mountains, coasts, schools, hospitals, factories, and markets.
He accused Trump of labeling Venezuelan officials as "narcoterrorists" without providing any evidence to support these claims.The US administration accuses Maduro of heading a drug cartel, allegations he vehemently denies.
The situation escalated further in August when Washington doubled the bounty for information leading to Maduro's capture from $25 million to $50 million.
Critics of Maduro have long accused him of electoral fraud, claiming that he manipulated last year's elections to retain his position.