Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro escalated his criticism of Washington on Monday, branding U.S. conduct toward his government as “acts of aggression” rather than normal diplomatic disputes. Speaking in a nationally broadcast address, Maduro said that nearly all channels of communication between Caracas and Washington have been dismantled, leaving relations at their lowest point in years.
The Venezuelan leader accused the United States of waging what he described as a multipronged campaign judicial, political, diplomatic, and military intended to destabilize his government. “They have issued threats of bombs, death, and blackmail,” Maduro declared, insisting that such behavior has left dialogue in tatters. Only minimal contact remains, he said, to coordinate the return of Venezuelan citizens living in the U.S.
Maduro’s sharp words follow a series of tense incidents that have deepened hostilities. Most notably, he condemned a U.S. military strike that sank a Venezuelan boat and killed 11 people. Washington has defended the action by alleging the vessel was carrying narcotics. Caracas, however, denies the claim and says the dead were not linked to drug trafficking. In another confrontation, U.S. forces reportedly boarded a Venezuelan tuna fishing vessel inside the country’s Special Economic Zone, holding it for several hours. Maduro portrayed this as yet another provocation, warning that the U.S. was “looking for an incident.”
The breakdown in dialogue comes amid broader disputes over Venezuela’s internal politics. Washington has refused to recognize the legitimacy of the 2024 presidential election, which the Venezuelan opposition insists was fraudulent. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities have expanded military operations in the Caribbean, saying they are aimed at combating narcotics trafficking, a claim Maduro rejects as a cover for interference in Venezuelan sovereignty.
Diplomatic experts warn that the absence of formal communication channels leaves both nations vulnerable to escalation. With incidents at sea already sparking controversy, the risk of miscalculation is increasing. Maduro, however, used the moment to rally domestic support, portraying his government as the defender of Venezuelan independence in the face of what he called imperialist aggression.
For now, the Venezuelan leader insists his country remains open to dialogue but only if conducted on what he calls terms of “sovereign equality.” As both governments harden their positions, the international community may face growing pressure to step in as mediator, hoping to prevent a worsening of an already volatile standoff in the Americas.