U.S. military forces are massing, Maduro: 8 warships with 1200 missiles are aiming at Venezuela
According to Associated Press and Bloomberg, on September 1 local time, Venezuelan President Maduro stated that now "8 warships carrying 1200 missiles and a submarine are aiming at Venezuela." He criticized the United States for trying to "exert maximum military pressure" on Venezuela, and said that in the face of America's "bloody threats," the country has made "the greatest" preparations to defend the nation.
Maduro also named U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, saying that Rubio is trying to drag President Trump into a "bloody massacre."
The report said that at the time when Maduro made the above remarks, there were reports that the U.S. government had ordered to strengthen its naval military deployment near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking groups from Latin America. This is the largest military buildup by the U.S. in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
"In the face of this military extreme pressure, we have declared that we are fully prepared to protect Venezuela," Maduro said at a press conference facing international media. The U.S. deployment this time was "an excessive, unreasonable, immoral, absolutely criminal and bloody threat."
Maduro specifically mentioned Rubio, saying that this move could escalate into direct confrontation. He said, "Rubio wants to be stained with blood, the blood of South America, the Caribbean and Venezuela. Even if they put 10,000 missiles on our heads, the Venezuelans will get respect."
Maduro described the U.S. move as an attempt at "regime change" and said it was absurd for the U.S. to use anti-drug efforts as an excuse to send troops to the Caribbean Sea, and its justification would collapse on its own. Venezuela has always been striving to combat drug trafficking, continuously seizing drugs and destroying aircraft and other vehicles used by drug trafficking groups.
"This is the greatest threat we have faced in the past 100 years on our continent," Maduro said. At present, there are "8 warships carrying 1200 missiles and a submarine aiming at Venezuela." He also pointed out, "If attacked, Venezuela will immediately enter a period of armed struggle to defend national territory... We will declare the country to be in an armed state according to the constitution."
At the same time, Maduro expressed willingness to hold dialogue, hoping to restore the "broken" communication channels with U.S. officials, and promised to continue transporting immigrant flights to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Previously, the Venezuelan government released political prisoners and continued to cooperate with repatriation actions from the United States.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842129969444940/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.