Maduro threatens Washington and launches military operation in view of US presence in Caribbean Sea

Venezuela's dictator, Nicolás Maduro, announced the launching of a military operation of "resistance" to the presence of the United States Army in the Caribbean Sea.

The Pentagon's action mobilizing its troops in the Caribbean -a route used by Venezuelan drug traffickers to transport drug shipments to the US- was described by Maduro as a "threat" to his country's security and interests.

"These seas, this land, these neighborhoods, these mountains, these immensities and the riches of these lands belong to the people of Venezuela, they will never belong to the U.S. empire, never ever," said the Venezuelan dictator, in statements reported by AFP.

"[These] people [are] not orphaned, [these] people [are] not alone. If we have to fight again, we will fight for the freedom of our great homeland," Maduro added. "The entire military force of our Bolivarian National Armed Force (...) is occupying positions, fixing positions, defending positions, fixing plans."

Bilateral tensions were heightened after the Pentagon destroyed a narco-boat heading to the U.S. via the Caribbean Sea - 11 criminals were killed - and with the subsequent response of the Maduro regime sending two F-16 fighter jets that overflew a U.S. destroyer.

Soon, members of the Trump administration defended their action. First, Vice President JD Vance, who said that "killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military."

Subsequently, Secretary of War (formerly Defense), Pete Hegseth, mimicked Vance's words and issued a clear warning to the Maduro regime.

"I would not want to be Nicolás Maduro right now. Maduro has a lot of decisions to make. We are sitting on a floating island of American power and we are prepared to use that power to intercept and destroy the narcoterrorists who are sending drugs into our country," Hegseth assured.