ALWAGHT- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says the country possesses 5,000 Russian-made surface-to-air missiles to deter US forces amid growing tensions over a major American military buildup in the Caribbean, which Caracas condemns as an invasion threat.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that his country has over 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S surface-to-air missiles positioned for air defense, describing them as vital to maintaining peace amid rising tensions with the United States. His statement follows Washington’s deployment of stealth aircraft and naval forces to the Caribbean under the banner of anti-narcotics operations, which have reportedly destroyed vessels alleged to be smuggling drugs from Venezuela.
Maduro denounced the US military presence as a precursor to invasion and accused Washington of seeking to overthrow his government under false pretenses. The Venezuelan leader said the missiles were being used in defensive drills responding to the American buildup, which includes destroyers, submarines, and F-35 jets. Caracas has rejected US claims that its nationals killed at sea were drug traffickers, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated.
The situation has heightened regional tensions, with Colombia recalling its ambassador after a dispute between its president and Donald Trump, who has authorized covert operations targeting Maduro’s government. Analysts view the US maneuvers as part of a pressure campaign to force regime change in Venezuela, while Latin American nations warn that any foreign intervention could ignite instability across the region.
