Venezuela's Director of Security Diosdado Cabello called U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio an "imbecile" and an "egotistical conqueror." He made these remarks during a chavista march in Caracas in support of President Nicolás Maduro. Cabello, who is also the number two in chavism, insisted that the U.S. government wants to "steal Venezuela's natural resources." His statements come amid growing tensions between Caracas and Washington, which maintains an unprecedented military deployment near the South American country's coast, citing the fight against the drug trafficking that originates in Venezuela. Uncertainty about a possible White House military intervention in the South American country spiked after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned on Saturday of a "potential risk" when flying over Venezuela and the region due to a possible "increase in military activity." Cabello insisted that anyone who "dares to set foot on Venezuela will be annihilated." This warning has so far led to the cancellation of more than thirty international flights departing from Caracas.
