Venezuela's Maduro accuses US of inventing 'eternal war'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of fabricating what he termed "a new eternal war" amid heightened tensions in Caribbean waters. Speaking in Caracas on Friday, Maduro asserted that Washington is developing another prolonged conflict despite previous commitments to avoid foreign military engagements, calling for South American collective action to prevent such escalation.

Regional Mobilization Call

Maduro urged regional populations to mobilize against perceived American military expansionism, stating that popular resistance represents the most effective deterrent to US intervention. The Venezuelan leader specifically rejected American allegations about drug trafficking operations, maintaining that his country remains completely free from coca leaf production and characterizing US accusations as politically motivated fabrications designed to justify military presence.

Defense Capability Enhancements

The Venezuelan president confirmed his military has deployed 5,000 Russian-manufactured Igla-S anti-aircraft missile systems to strengthen national air defense networks. This substantial enhancement of Venezuelan military capacity coincides with ongoing US naval deployments throughout the Caribbean region, which Caracas interprets as direct threats potentially aimed at facilitating governmental change through military pressure.

Geopolitical Context

The escalating rhetoric occurs within broader hemispheric tensions, with Venezuela positioning itself as a bastion against American influence in South America. Maduro's administration continues to strengthen military cooperation with international partners including Russia, while simultaneously rejecting US allegations about illegal activities and challenging Washington's regional security initiatives as pretexts for interventionism.