Venezuela accuses US of military 'provocation' as tensions escalate

BOGOTA, Colombia

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said Thursday that five fighter jets were detected near the country's coast, which he described as a "threat" and "provocation" by the United States.

"They are fighter jets. Imperialism has dared to approach the Venezuelan coast," Padrino said from an air base in a state television broadcast, adding that the presence of the planes was reported by an international airline to a control tower.

"The presence of these planes flying near our nearby Caribbean Sea is rude, a provocation, (and) a threat to the security of the nation," he stated.

Padrino assured that if the US "attacked" the South American nation, the country would launch a "national mobilization."

"I denounce before the world the military harassment, the military threat of the United States Government against the people of Venezuela (...); I denounce before the world this situation, which, I repeat, is nothing more than a provocation, but also a threat to our national security," Padrino declared.

This incident is the latest development in escalating tensions between the two countries. The US deployed 10 F-35 aircraft to Puerto Rico nearly a month ago as part of a military buildup that also includes eight warships. President Nicolas Maduro has previously called this mobilization a "siege" and a "threat."

In recent weeks, four suspected drug traffickers' boats have already been destroyed by US strikes. Venezuela has said it believes that President Donald Trump is using drug trafficking as a false pretext to overthrow Maduro and seize the country's vast oil reserves.

In response to what he views as a military threat, Maduro has mobilized militias, warships, helicopters, and fighter aircraft with 2,500 troops.

The president has also said he is preparing a decree to declare a "state of external unrest," an exceptional measure that would expand his powers.

BOGOTA, Colombia

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said Thursday that five fighter jets were detected near the country's coast, which he described as a "threat" and "provocation" by the United States.

"The presence of these planes flying near our nearby Caribbean Sea is rude, a provocation, (and) a threat to the security of the nation," he stated.

Padrino assured that if the US "attacked" the South American nation, the country would launch a "national mobilization."

In response to what he views as a military threat, Maduro has mobilized militias, warships, helicopters, and fighter aircraft with 2,500 troops.

The president has also said he is preparing a decree to declare a "state of external unrest," an exceptional measure that would expand his powers.