Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has rejected what he termed a “slave peace,” asserting that the country has been subjected to “psychological terrorism” for the past 22 weeks. Speaking at a rally in Caracas attended by thousands of supporters on Monday, Maduro addressed rising tensions with the United States, particularly concerning the increased US military presence in the Caribbean.
“We want peace, but we want peace with sovereignty, equality, and liberty,” Maduro stated. “We do not want a slave peace, nor a colonial peace.” His comments come as US President Donald Trump reportedly plans to convene a meeting with the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Venezuela.
Washington maintains that its military deployments in the Caribbean, which began in August, are aimed at combating drug cartels. The US has deployed significant assets, including what it describes as the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the region. However, Maduro views the increased military activity as a direct threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can be described as psychological terrorism, 22 weeks that have put us to the test,” Maduro declared. “The people of Venezuela have shown their love for the homeland.”
President Trump acknowledged on Sunday that he had spoken by telephone with his Venezuelan counterpart, but he did not provide details regarding the content of their conversation. The phone call comes amid heightened scrutiny of US-Venezuelan relations.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation. This is a developing story.
