Venezuela Is Full Of Alert To Face The Deployment Of US Fleet In The Caribbean Sea

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro/PHOTO via Instagram @nicolasmaduro

JAKARTA - Venezuelan militaries are fully alerted along the coastline to prepare for the deployment of the United States marine fleet in the Caribbean Sea.

This was announced by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez as broadcast by the state television channel, Venezolana de Television.

He explained that the massive military efforts included "research operations on land routes, air surveillance, radio exploration and operations, surveillance, and amphibious maneuvers" in coastal areas.

The announcement came a day after President Nicolas Maduro warned Venezuela had "more than 5,000" Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles.

Maduro called Igla-S one of the greatest weapons ever. He stressed that the great preparations were intended to ensure "peace, stability and calm" of the Venezuelan people.

"Every military force in the world knows the greatness of the Igla-S, and Venezuela has no less than 5,000 units," he said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, October 24.

He explained Venezuela used state-of-the-art simulation equipment to ensure the "precise target of thousands of Igla-S operators" stationed throughout the national region, which it said should be "integrable homeland."

The statement comes amid the deployment of the US military in the Caribbean, which Venezuela sees as a direct threat aimed at encouraging a "change of the regime."

However, the US called the action an operation to eradicate narcotics targeting alleged drug trafficking from South America claims that the Venezuelan government has firmly rejected.

Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro also responded to the tension. On Thursday, he stated that any possible US military action in the Colombian region under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking "is an invasion and a violation of national sovereignty."

Petro made this statement when answering reporters' questions about US President Donald Trump's report that he had allowed ground operations in the area.

Petro also criticized the recent US attack on a ship suspected of transporting drugs, which reportedly killed about 30 people.

The latest incident that occurred on Wednesday was the first time such an attack was carried out in the Pacific Ocean.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry denounced the maneuver in a statement formally urging the US government "to stop these attacks and respect international law rules."