Maduro boasts he has 5,000 missiles ready for WAR as Trump threatens strikes inside Venezuela after latest boat blitz
NICOLAS Maduro claims he has 5,000 anti-aircraft missiles in “key air defence positions” amid growing tensions with Donald Trump.
The inflammatory statement comes as a bold response to the United States’ continued military deployment in the Caribbean.
Sign up for newsletter
Thank you!
Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Oval OfficeCredit: Reuters
Venezuelan President Maduro offers a statement in a national radio and television broadcastCredit: Xinhua / Polaris
Donald Trump said he is considering further military action inside Venezuela as part of his war on drugs.
The US deployed some 4,500 soldiers to the Caribbean to strengthen operations against drug cartels.
In a show of military power, the western superpower carried out several lethal strikes on boats off the Caribbean coast.
While authorities have alleged that the targets were drug traffickers, lawmakers from both parties have questioned the legality of the strikes.
Read more about Venezuela
AIR POWER
Trump carries out ‘jet attack demo’ as Don warns Venezuela not to ‘f*** around’
DRUG BLITZ
Moment Trump bombs drug submarine off Venezuela as two ‘narcoterrorists’ killed
However, when asked about it, Trump said that the strikes were likely to continue in a bid to “save lives.”
Trump revealed last week that he had granted permission for the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.
He went on to say that the US was considering expanding military activity to land operations.
“I authorised it for two reasons,” he said.
Venezuela, he said, was the “worst abuser” of “open border” policies under the Biden administration, emptying its “prisons, mental institutions, insane asylums” of migrants to the US.
“The other thing is drugs … We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela.”
“We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control,” the President told reporters.
However, those privy to internal decisions said any land attack would be a targeted operation on alleged trafficker camps or airstrips, rather than a direct attempt to unseat Maduro.
The White House has been laying the groundwork for a potential military incursion inside Venezuela for some time.
This has involved tying Maduro to drug cartels that officials have designated as terror groups who pose an imminent threat to the US.
The Cartel de los Soles, the terrorist-designated group that according to the Trump administration is headed by Maduro, is largely made up of senior Venezuelan military and regime officials.
They facilitate and take a cut of profits from drug trafficking and other criminal activity.
The US has long accused the Venezuelan President of being illegitimately elected and presiding over several narcotics cartels.
This forms part of a wider campaign aimed at ousting Maduro.
However, it remains unclear whether Trump will escalate things by targeting Maduro directly.
Instead, the current strategy is to pressure him to step down by establishing the US military as a credible threat if he does not.
But Maduro refuses to go quietly.
He has mobilised “millions” of militia members while denouncing all US activity in the region.
The South American leader claims that these volunteer militias number as many as 8,000,000.
However, experts not only doubt this figure but also question the quality of training the troops receive.
The USA have successfully destroyed at least seven boats so farCredit: Reuters
Venezuela is generally used as a conduit for cocaine produced by Colombian guerrilla groupsCredit: x/@SecWar
In a televised speech last week, Maduro claimed the Venezuelan population are “clear, united, and aware.”
“They have the means to once again defeat this open conspiracy against the peace and stability of Venezuela.”
Speaking at an event with military officials broadcast by Venezolana de Television, Maduro said: “Any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S and Venezuela has no less than 5,000.”
The Igla-S are short-range, low-altitude Russian missiles, similar to American Stingers.
They can shoot down small aerial targets such as drones, helicopters, and low-flying planes.
According to the Russian state company that exports these missiles, they have a range of up to 6,000 metres and can reach targets at a maximum altitude of 3,500.
While it has not been verified that Venezuela possesses as many missiles as claimed, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) confirmed that they are part of Maduro’s arsenal.
In support of these claims, Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino, was photographed with the launchers in Caracas.
Maduro assured his people that the missiles had been deployed “even in the last mountain, the last town, and the last city of the territory.”
Trump has now authorised the destruction of at least seven boats under the guise that they are international terrorists.
The vast majority of illicit drugs entering the US, however, do not come from or through the Caribbean, but from along the Pacific coast or by land from Mexico, according to US government and UN experts.
ROYAL FLEE
Beatrice & Eugenie quietly snuck out UK as Andrew was forced to quit Royal Lodge
OUR KID
TV legend, 72, looks unrecognisable with long grey beard – can you guess who?
Venezuela is generally used as a conduit for cocaine produced and trafficked by Colombian guerrilla groups – primarily the National Liberation Army.
Any further escalation would have the broader effect of weakening Maduro, who has been an adversary of Washington for a long time.
Trump said he had authorised military activity in a bid to “save lives.”Credit: AFP
President Maduro is a longstanding adversary of WashingtonCredit: Xinhua / Polaris
