Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a stark warning to regional and global leaders on December 22, accusing the United States of an aggressive military escalation that he said threatens Venezuela, the wider Caribbean, and international stability. Speaking in a nationally broadcast address, Maduro said his message was directed to heads of state and government across the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as to member countries of the United Nations.
Maduro claimed that U.S. forces had carried out 28 attacks against civilian ships operating in the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in what he described as the extrajudicial killing of 104 people. He alleged that these incidents were not isolated events but part of a systematic pattern involving the use of lethal force outside any recognised international legal framework.
According to the Venezuelan president, such actions represent a serious misstep by Washington with far-reaching consequences. He said the alleged attacks and military intimidation risk destabilising not only Venezuela but the entire region, while also undermining the international system as a whole. Maduro insisted that Venezuela had not committed any act that would justify what he characterised as U.S. military pressure or threats.
Positioning his remarks within a broader diplomatic appeal, Maduro framed his address as a warning rather than a declaration of confrontation. He said Venezuela remains committed to peace and dialogue, but stressed that the country would not remain passive in the face of what it views as external aggression.
“Venezuela reiterates its orientation towards peace,” Maduro said, while adding that his government is fully prepared to defend the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and natural resources if necessary. His remarks come amid long-standing tensions between Caracas and Washington, as well as heightened geopolitical strains across the Americas.
