Venezuelan president warns of “armed struggle” if attacked

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Venezuelan president warns of “armed struggle” if attacked

2025-12-05 10:44 Last Updated At：12-06 10:09

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a live broadcast on Thursday that his government is prepared to engage in an "armed struggle" to defend peace and national sovereignty.

Maduro made the remarks as tensions between Venezuela and the United States are escalating, which are triggered by the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean Sea.

He also said that if the Venezuelan government is forced into an armed conflict, it will be a fight for peace, sovereignty, the homeland, and in defense of this land.

The president said that Venezuela would continue to advance along the current path.

On the same day, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accused the United States of imposing 1,042 "criminal" and "illegal" sanctions against Venezuela, claiming they violate the country's human rights.

Gil also condemned the recent U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, saying it has significantly escalated the tensions.

The United States has recently stationed several warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. The Venezuelan government views the U.S. move as a military threat intended to force a change in government.

This military posture was followed by a November 29 social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he declared that airspace over and around Venezuela should be considered fully closed.

In response, Venezuela subsequently issued a strong condemnation, calling the statement a threat to its airspace sovereignty.

Despite the intensified rhetoric, a channel of high-level contact remains open.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington was communicating with regional allies to coordinate its position and would "evaluate new measures" regarding Venezuela in the coming days.

He said that the current issue with Maduro lies in the unfulfilled commitments from the bilateral negotiations.

President Maduro also confirmed in an earlier televised speech on Wednesday that he had held a telephone conversation with Trump.

"If this call means steps are being taken toward a respectful dialogue between our countries, then dialogue is welcome, diplomacy is welcome," Maduro said in the speech.

Escalating Middle East tensions drive up energy prices, squeezing US consumers

Soaring oil prices triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East have heightened U.S. inflation pressures, with analysts warning that households face hundreds of dollars in extra costs if crude climbs further.

Data released on Tuesday by the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed that the national average price of regular gasoline in the United States has risen 18.64 percent compared with Feb. 26. The AAA data also indicated that the national average price of diesel on Tuesday was up 22.85 percent from a week earlier.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at global ratings agency Moody's, warned that U.S. consumers are being threatened by a sharp rise in fuel prices. He said that if international oil prices climb by another 10 U.S. dollars per barrel, annual spending for an average U.S. household would increase by about 450 dollars.

Zandi noted that a surge in oil prices would intensify inflationary pressure in the United States, eroding consumers' purchasing power and weighing on consumption, economic growth, and employment.

Tensions sharply escalated across the Middle East on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel launched large-scale joint airstrikes on Iran. The Iranian side has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region, hitting many countries in the Gulf.