Maduro Accuses Trump of “Fabricating a War” as US Deploys World’s Largest Warship Near Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of “fabricating a new eternal war” after the United States sent its biggest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, toward Venezuela, escalating fears of confrontation in the Caribbean.

In a fiery national address on Friday night, Maduro said the US move was part of a “criminal and totally fake narrative,” rejecting US President Donald Trump’s accusation that he leads the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua.

“They are fabricating an extravagant narrative,” Maduro said. “Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves.”

Trump has justified the naval buildup as part of his campaign against “narco-terrorists,” but UN officials and international law experts have called the recent wave of US air and sea strikes “extrajudicial executions.” Since early September, US forces have bombed 10 vessels, eight of them in the Caribbean, killing at least 43 people.

The Venezuelan leader said his government is preparing for “covert operations” and possible invasion attempts. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced large-scale coastal defence drills across nine states. Footage on state TV showed troops training with Russian Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles.

“We are protecting ourselves from large-scale military threats,” Padrino said. “The CIA may deploy countless units in covert operations from any part of the nation, but any attempt will fail.”

Washington’s military presence in the region now includes eight US Navy ships, 10 F-35 fighter jets, and a nuclear-powered submarine, the largest Caribbean deployment since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Maduro has also launched legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who now lives in Spain and has publicly backed US strikes. Lopez dismissed the move on X, writing that the Venezuelan constitution forbids stripping citizenship from native-born nationals.

“I support any measure that helps free our country from tyranny,” Lopez added.

Meanwhile, tensions have spilled into neighbouring Colombia, where the US Treasury sanctioned President Gustavo Petro, his family, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. Washington accused Petro of protecting criminal groups and “failing to rein in the cocaine industry,” citing his Total Peace plan, a controversial effort to negotiate with rebel and criminal factions.

Petro shot back online, calling the sanctions “Republican blackmail” inspired by far-right figures in Washington.