Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared his country “peaceful but unyielding” as he warned of unprecedented threats from the United States during a rare press conference in Caracas. Speaking alongside top ministers and senior military leaders, Maduro said the U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean—framed by Washington as an anti-narcotics mission—represented the greatest challenge South America had faced in a century.

“Biggest Threat In A Century”

“Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years,” Maduro told reporters and military commanders in the capital. “A situation like this has never been seen.” The president stressed that while Venezuela advocates peace, it “will not bow to threats.”

Maduro has increasingly used such rhetoric to rally domestic support and project defiance abroad. He accused Washington of orchestrating a campaign of pressure, sanctions, and military intimidation to destabilize his government and pave the way for intervention.

U.S. Naval Buildup And Policy Goals

In recent weeks, the U.S. has strengthened its naval presence in the Caribbean, deploying ships and aircraft in operations officials say are intended to disrupt transnational drug cartels. The measures come as part of a broader strategy by President Donald Trump to curb illegal migration and secure the southern U.S. border.

But Caracas views the maneuvers differently. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and other senior figures argue the deployments are designed to encircle Venezuela and threaten its sovereignty. “They disguise it as a war on drugs,” one government official said, “but the real aim is to prepare the terrain for aggression against our people.”

Washington’s Pressure Campaign

The standoff comes against the backdrop of heightened U.S. legal and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela’s leadership. In early August, Washington doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, alleging links to drug trafficking and criminal groups. The U.S. has consistently branded Maduro’s administration illegitimate since the disputed 2018 elections, backing opposition leader Juan Guaidó in earlier years and maintaining sanctions against state oil company PDVSA and senior officials.

Military Readiness And Domestic Messaging

The presence of uniformed generals at Maduro’s side during the press conference underscored the military’s central role in supporting the government. Venezuelan officials sought to portray unity between the armed forces and civilian leadership, stressing readiness to defend the country against any incursion.

“Venezuela is peaceful, but Venezuela is not weak,” Maduro said, suggesting that any U.S. aggression would be met with resistance. Analysts note that such displays are intended both to reassure Venezuelans at home and to deter external actors from escalating tensions further.