Venezuela's vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, has warned that President Nicolás Maduro is prepared to declare a state of emergency if the United States launches a military attack on the country. Speaking on Monday, Rodríguez described the potential consequences as 'catastrophic' and accused the US of seeking to seize Venezuela's natural resources.
The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Caracas in recent weeks, deploying a major naval force in the Caribbean and conducting airstrikes on Venezuelan vessels that have killed at least 17 people. Washington claims the strikes target drug cartels smuggling cocaine and fentanyl into the US, but critics suspect they may be a prelude to a broader intervention aimed at ending Maduro's 12-year rule.
Rodríguez dismissed US claims as 'a big lie', alleging the real objective is to control Venezuela's oil, gas, gold, and mineral reserves. She singled out US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him 'the Lord of War'. A state of emergency, she said, would grant Maduro special powers to mobilise the armed forces, seal borders, and place the military in charge of key infrastructure.
While some experts previously viewed Trump's campaign as political theatre, recent deadly strikes have raised fears of further escalation. NBC News reported that US military officials are drawing up options for drone strikes inside Venezuela, possibly within weeks. However, analyst Phil Gunson of Crisis Group ruled out a full-scale invasion, though he said other military options remain on the table.
