"Our democracy is the most advanced on the planet. Yes, we are an educated, cultured, patriotic, courageous people, aware of our rights. Nothing and no one will take away our opportunity to live and be part of the 'Century of the People'," said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a video posted this morning on Telegram.

Last night, Donald Trump , interviewed by CBS, did not want to answer about possible attacks on Venezuela, but said bluntly that Maduro "has his days numbered".

The statements come against a backdrop of heated debate: Marines conducting landing drills in Puerto Rico , while the US attacks another suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, raising tensions between Washington and Caracas. Moscow is sending mixed messages after the largest US naval deployment in the region since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis: on the one hand, a "firm condemnation of the use of excessive military force in counter-drug operations" and a call to avoid new conflicts; on the other, the threat of the possible dispatch of Russian missiles to Caracas and potential "surprises" for the US .

American displays of muscle are raising fears of a worsening situation. The latest is a video posted by the US Southern Command showing the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit engaged in "training operations in Puerto Rico." The footage shows an amphibious vehicle carrying troops, vehicles, and equipment on a mission supported by several helicopters from which the soldiers practice landings and infiltrations. The images are almost cinematic and have a strong media impact. "US forces," the post reads, "are deployed in the Caribbean to support the Southern Command mission, operations directed by the Department of War, and the priorities of the President of the United States to combat illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland."

The stated objective remains the fight against cartels, but the concentration of men and equipment suggests something else entirely. Another alarming sign is that the US military is modernizing a naval base in the Caribbean, abandoned after the Cold War, suggesting preparations for potential attacks inside Venezuela.

Washington is also expanding infrastructure at civilian airports in Puerto Rico and Saint Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The two U.S. territories are located about 800 kilometers from Venezuela. The goal, according to some U.S. media, could be to force Maduro into exile or induce someone in his entourage to betray him .

(Unioneonline)

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