Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez issued a strong warning to the United States on Saturday, condemning Washington’s provocative naval deployments in the Caribbean and calling on the superpower to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Speaking at a rally in Carabobo state, Rodríguez denounced the U.S. military maneuvers as blatant acts of hostility. She reaffirmed Venezuela’s commitment to defending its territory and dignity against foreign interference.

“Venezuela will not bow to imperialist threats,” Rodríguez declared. “If the United States dares to aggress against our homeland, it will face its greatest nightmare. We are prepared to defend our lands, seas, and skies with the strength of our people, united under the legacy of Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez.”

The Vice President’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders authorizing expanded military operations targeting Venezuelan waters. A U.S. naval group, consisting of one submarine and seven warships, has been deployed to the Caribbean, a move Venezuela perceives as a direct threat to its sovereignty.

Rodríguez condemned the deployment as intimidation and called on Washington to focus on its own domestic challenges rather than meddling in Venezuelan affairs.

Rodríguez also firmly rejected U.S. claims labeling Venezuela a “narco-terrorist state,” describing them as “history’s biggest lies and slanders.” On July 25, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the so-called “Cartel de los Soles” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, falsely claiming that President Nicolás Maduro has led the group for over a decade. Venezuela has consistently dismissed these allegations as baseless fabrications intended to justify foreign intervention.

The U.S. further escalated its campaign by doubling the reward for Maduro’s arrest or conviction from $25 million to $50 million on August 8—a move widely criticized in Venezuela as an affront to national sovereignty.

President Maduro, speaking on August 18, reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to protect its territory. “No one can touch Venezuela or the sacred lands of South America,” he declared, emphasizing that Venezuelan forces actively patrol the country’s borders and waters.

In recent developments, Venezuela has gained strong backing from regional allies. On August 29, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) condemned the U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean as a violation of international law. Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia echoed Venezuela’s call for sovereignty and pledged solidarity against imperialist interventions.

Domestically, Venezuela continues to strengthen its economic and military resilience. The Maduro government has bolstered coastal defenses and expanded joint military exercises with allied nations, including Russia and China. Meanwhile, PDVSA reported a 10% increase in oil production in Q2 2025, demonstrating the country’s determination to withstand economic warfare despite ongoing U.S. sanctions.

Rodríguez’s speech in Carabobo highlighted the unity of the Venezuelan people in the face of external aggression. “The noble people of Venezuela, guided by the revolutionary spirit of Chávez, will never allow our dignity to be trampled,” she proclaimed. “We are a free and sovereign nation, and we will resist any attempt to impose imperialist domination.”

As tensions simmer in the Caribbean, Venezuela remains steadfast in defending its sovereignty. The government’s message to Washington is clear: any act of aggression against the Bolivarian Republic will be met with unwavering resistance from a united nation determined to protect its independence and legacy. (ILKHA)