Venezuela’s Maduro Ready to Declare State of Emergency over US ‘Aggression’

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday that he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in response to what he described as escalating US “aggression.” The warning follows a series of deadly US strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats in the Caribbean.

In a televised address, Maduro declared: “Today the consultation process began… to declare a state of emergency in accordance with the constitution and protect our people, our peace, and our stability if Venezuela were attacked by the American empire, attacked militarily.”

Earlier in the day, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez told foreign diplomats that Maduro had already signed a decree granting himself “special powers” as head of state to act decisively in matters of defence and security if the United States moved to attack Venezuelan territory.

However, a government source later told AFP that while the decree was presented, Maduro had not yet signed it:

• “The vice president presented the document to show that everything was ready and that the president can decree it at any time,” said the anonymous source.

The Venezuelan government has been placed on high alert after a significant US military build-up near its coastline.

In recent weeks, US forces have destroyed at least three suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, killing 14 individuals. UN experts condemned the incidents as “extrajudicial executions.”

According to an NBC News report, citing four unnamed sources, US military officials are now drafting plans to extend operations into Venezuelan territory to target suspected drug traffickers.

Declaring a state of emergency would grant Maduro the power to temporarily suspend basic rights of Venezuelan citizens. His controversial re-election last year remains widely unrecognised by the international community, which has accused his government of authoritarian practices.

Vice President Rodríguez insisted that Venezuelans would rally behind Maduro if conflict with the United States were to erupt: “Venezuela is united in the defence of our country. We will never surrender our homeland.”

In his address, Maduro claimed he had received “good feedback” from a private conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. According to Maduro, Guterres expressed astonishment at what he called an “unprecedented and extravagant escalation” against Venezuela, ongoing for nearly seven weeks.

However, these assertions have not been independently confirmed by the United Nations.