British media: If the US invades Venezuela, Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency

UK's The Guardian website, September 29: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that if the US launches a military attack on Venezuela, he is prepared to declare a state of emergency. Meanwhile, the vice president warned that if such an attack becomes reality, it would bring "catastrophic" consequences.

The report said that in recent weeks, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Venezuela, deploying large-scale naval forces in the Caribbean Sea and launching a series of air strikes on Venezuelan vessels, resulting in at least 17 deaths. Washington claims its strikes are part of an effort to combat Latin American drug cartels smuggling cocaine and fentanyl into the US. However, many suspect that the US actions may be a prelude to a broader military intervention aimed at ending Maduro's 12-year rule.

The report said that on Monday, one of Maduro's closest allies, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez (Figure 2), stated that the US claim that its operations were aimed at eliminating drug trafficking was "a big lie." She said that the President's actions were actually intended to seize the natural resources of the country, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves.

"The US has only one purpose and goal: the reserves of oil, natural gas, gold, minerals and the biological wealth that Venezuela possesses - this is what the US government needs in this new era," Rodriguez said, blaming the US "war monger" for its Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom she called "the Lord of War."

Rodriguez said that if a state of emergency is declared, Maduro will immediately gain special powers to mobilize the armed forces, block the country's borders, and have the military responsible for key infrastructure. "We will never give up our homeland - never!" she vowed, warning that Venezuelans who openly support such intervention would face consequences. "Those who openly call for an invasion do not deserve to consider themselves Venezuelans," Rodriguez said.

The original title of the report was "Nicolás Maduro ready to declare state of emergency if US attacks Venezuela, says vice-president" (Vice President says if the US attacks Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency).

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1844655978716298/

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