Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela, calls on citizens to fight in “every inch of their streets and neighborhoods”

Venezuela is on high alert after former President Donald Trump hinted he had already decided on the next step in his Caribbean military campaign. While Trump stopped short of revealing specifics, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of plotting to remove him from power.

Maduro warned, “Venezuela will not become the Gaza of South America,” accusing the United States of escalating a “war-mongering” strategy against his country.

U.S. troops positioned near Venezuelan coast

Trump has ramped up pressure on Maduro with more than 10,000 U.S. troops stationed just miles off Venezuela’s coastline as part of a regional anti-narcotics operation. The president has repeatedly accused Maduro of ties to the Cartel of the Suns and continues to brand himself as the “biggest enemy of drug trafficking” in Latin America.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said, “I’ve made my decision… I can’t tell you what it is, but we’ve made great progress with Venezuela in stopping the flow of drugs.”

Opposition leader predicts peaceful transition

María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, expressed optimism that the country’s transition “will be peaceful,” though she admitted the coming hours “will be decisive.” Her hopeful tone contrasts sharply with the escalating threats between Trump and Maduro.

Maduro mobilizes street defense committees

In response to what he calls a looming “invasion,” Maduro announced Saturday the creation of thousands of neighborhood defense groups tasked with protecting “every inch” of Venezuelan territory. According to his party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), more than 260,000 “Bolivarian Integral Base Committees” have been formed nationwide.

U.S. launches Operation Southern Spear

Meanwhile, Trump continues to flex military muscle in the region, unveiling a new mission dubbed Operation Southern Spear. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the campaign targets “narco-terrorism” linked to Maduro’s regime, fueling speculation that the standoff could spiral into a full-blown conflict. Details of the operation remain unclear.

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