ISTANBUL

A US warship arrived Sunday in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital as the Trump administration stepped up military pressure on Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro.

The guided missile destroyer USS Gravely docked in Port of Spain, joining the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier as it moves closer to Venezuelan waters.

Maduro condemned the deployment, accusing the US of seeking to ignite “a new eternal war” against his nation.

The Venezuelan government also condemned the presence of the USS Gravely, describing it as a “hostile provocation against Venezuela and a serious threat to Caribbean peace,” while accusing the US of planning a potential false flag operation.

"Venezuela reports that it has captured a mercenary group with direct information from the U.S. intelligence agency, CIA, being able to determine that a false flag attack is underway from waters bordering Trinidad and Tobago, or from Trinidad or Venezuelan territory itself," the government said in a statement.

Officials from Trinidad and Tobago and the US announced that the warship will stay in the capital until Thursday to allow the two nations to conduct joint training exercises.