Maduro Warns of US Naval Encirclement, Vows Venezuela Will Resist
Venezuelan leader denounces deployment of US warships and nuclear submarine, vows national defense readiness, and receives backing from allies including ALBA, Iran, Russia and China
Venezuela, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the deployment of US naval forces near his country’s coasts as the continent’s “greatest threat in a century.”
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Maduro said eight US military vessels—armed with 1,200 missiles—and a nuclear-powered submarine are positioned off Venezuela’s shores.
He described the move as “extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral, absolutely criminal,” warning that it represents a “bloody threat” to the country’s sovereignty.
Maduro accused Washington of pursuing a policy of “maximum military pressure” aimed at Caracas, forcing Venezuela to declare full preparedness for national defense.
A Peaceful Nation of Warriors
“Venezuela is a peaceful state, but its people are made of warriors and they will never cede before threats or blackmail,” Maduro stated.
Despite the tensions, the president revealed that two diplomatic channels with Washington remain open: one through US charge d’affaires ad interim in Colombia, John McNamara, and another via US Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell.
Escalating US Pressure
The standoff follows an August 2025 deployment by Washington of three guided-missile destroyers—USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—close to Venezuelan territorial waters.
The force included more than 4,000 Marines and sailors, drawing widespread condemnation from governments across Latin America.
At the time, Maduro denounced the move as “immoral, criminal, and illegal,” calling it a direct attempt to impose regime change in Caracas.
Regional and International Solidarity
Venezuela’s key allies, including Russia, China, Iran, and members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), have voiced strong support for Caracas. They urged respect for international law and the territorial integrity of all states in the region amid what they see as mounting US aggression.
Maduro praised Colombian President Gustavo Petro for deploying 25,000 troops to the Catatumbo region along the Colombia-Venezuela border, describing the move as an act of regional unity in preserving peace and protecting sovereignty.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned Washington’s military deployment at the XIII Extraordinary Summit of ALBA-TCP, warning that US militarization poses a serious threat to regional stability.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reaffirmed Tehran’s support, calling US unilateral actions “baseless” and “unacceptable.” (PW)