The Venezuelan government warned on Friday about a war it claims the United States is trying to instigate in Latin America and the Caribbean, but stressed that surrendering in this context would be a 'historical impossibility.' This statement comes amid heightened tensions due to the deployment of U.S. naval forces in Caribbean waters, which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro interprets as an attempt to oust him. In a speech marking the 47th anniversary of the Integral Aerospace Defense Command, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that the U.S. also intends to 'again send taxpayers, young people of American society, back in sacks, black bags, and urns.' However, the military leader noted that Venezuela is still 'clamoring for peace,' but emphasized that the country remains in 'rebellion' against what it considers the 'nefarious actions of American imperialism.' The defense minister denounced an attempt at intimidation by the U.S. following the flyover of F-18 fighter jets on Tuesday and criticized the confiscation of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, which he deemed a 'flagrant violation' of international law and freedom of navigation. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro warned that 'formulas of lies, pressure, blackmail, and threats' will never work against his country.
