Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro attends an event with supporters following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that ground operations against drug cartels could be next, even without a declaration of war, in Caracas, Venezuela, October 23, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded on Thursday against a “crazy war” as an escalating U.S. military campaign sent tensions soaring.
Mr. Maduro’s comment came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had authorized covert action against the South American nation amid a military campaign targeting what Washington says are drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.
“Yes peace, yes peace forever, peace forever. No crazy war, please!” Mr. Maduro said in English in a meeting with unions aligned with the leftist leader.
The United States has deployed stealth warplanes and navy ships as part of what it calls anti-narcotics efforts, but has yet to release evidence that its targets — eight boats and a semi-submersible — were smuggling drugs.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr. Trump again denied that he had sent B-1B bombers to Venezuela, but said “we’re not happy with them. They’ve emptied their prisons into our country.”
The President said “we’re not going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war” from Congress, which has the constitutional power to do so.
“We’re just going to kill people who come into our country.”
The U.S. strikes, which began on September 2, have killed at least 37 people, according to an AFP tally based on U.S. figures.
Regional tensions have flared as a result of the campaign, with Mr. Maduro accusing Washington of seeking regime change.
Late on Thursday, the government in Trinidad and Tobago — located just off Venezuela’s coast — announced that a U.S. warship would dock in its capital from October 26-30.
The Trinidadian Foreign Ministry said a unit of U.S. Marines would conduct joint exercises with its defense forces.
Two of those killed in the U.S. strikes were from Trinidad and Tobago.
Last week, Mr. Trump said he had authorized covert CIA action against Venezuela and was considering strikes against alleged drug cartels on land.
The Republican billionaire president accuses Mr. Maduro of heading a drug cartel, a charge the Venezuelan leader denies.
“We know the CIA is present” in Venezuela, the country’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Thursday.
“They may deploy — I don’t know how many — CIA-affiliated units in covert operations… and any attempt will fail.”
Mr. Padrino was overseeing military exercises along Venezuela’s coast in response to the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean.
Experts have questioned the legality of using lethal force in foreign or international waters against suspects who have not been intercepted or questioned.
Published – October 24, 2025 11:28 pm IST
