President Maduro has issued a strong warning, stating that Venezuela will immediately enter into armed conflict if attacked. He claims to have a regular army of 340,000 soldiers and has mobilized over eight million fighters from reserves and militias. The escalating tensions stem from a recent event in which the US military attempted to interdict a drug-laden vessel, resulting in casualties. Maduro has dismissed US claims as unfounded, emphasizing that military confrontation is not the appropriate response to the existing disagreements. The US has not recognized Maduro’s electoral victories in 2018 and 2024 and has accused him of running a drug cartel, offering a reward of $50 million for his arrest.







