Maduro ready to declare ‘republic in arms’ if US forces attack Venezuela

The US has deployed military forces to the Caribbean in an operation said to target Latin American drug cartels.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that a United States military build-up in the Caribbean is aimed at overthrowing his government, and he was ready to “declare a republic in arms” if attacked by US forces.

In a series of rare remarks to reporters on Monday, Maduro said that Venezuela seeks peace but that his military is prepared to respond to any attacks from US forces.

“They are seeking a regime change through military threat,” Maduro told journalists. “Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.”

“If Venezuela were attacked, we would immediately move to armed struggle in defence of our territory,” he said, pledging to declare “a republic in arms”.