Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told CNN that Americans should "unite for the peace of the Americas," warning against more prolonged U.S. wars as Washington increases its military presence in the Caribbean. The U.S. has deployed about 15,000 personnel and over a dozen warships and says it has carried out at least 20 strikes that killed roughly 80 people. Media reports say the Trump administration has considered operations inside Venezuela but has told Congress it lacks a clear legal justification. In response, Venezuela has mobilized regular forces and civilian militias and placed anti-vehicle obstacles on a key coastal highway.
Maduro Urges Americans to "Unite for the Peace of the Americas" as U.S. Military Presence Grows
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told CNN that Americans should "unite for the peace of the Americas," warning against more prolonged U.S. wars as Washington increases its military presence in the Caribbean. The U.S. has deployed about 15,000 personnel and over a dozen warships and says it has carried out at least 20 strikes that killed roughly 80 people. Media reports say the Trump administration has considered operations inside Venezuela but has told Congress it lacks a clear legal justification. In response, Venezuela has mobilized regular forces and civilian militias and placed anti-vehicle obstacles on a key coastal highway.
09:06 AM, 11/14/2025Conflict
Maduro urges Americans to oppose "endless wars" amid rising U.S. naval deployment
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told CNN correspondent Stefano Pozzebon during a rally in Caracas that citizens of the United States should "unite with Venezuela for the peace of the Americas." His remarks come as tensions between Caracas and Washington intensify over a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.
"To unite for the peace of (the Americas). No more endless wars. No more unjust wars. No more Libya. No more Afghanistan," Maduro said in Spanish, later adding in English when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump: "Yes peace, yes peace."
The U.S. has deployed roughly 15,000 personnel to the region and more than a dozen warships — including an aircraft carrier the Navy has called its "most lethal combat platform." Washington says the operation targets vessels allegedly used to traffic narcotics toward the United States; Caracas accuses the U.S. of using the build-up to pressure for regime change.
U.S. officials report at least 20 strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific, which they say resulted in about 80 deaths. Media reporting indicates the Trump administration has considered plans to strike cocaine-processing facilities and trafficking corridors inside Venezuela, though officials have told Congress they do not currently have a clear legal basis for strikes on Venezuelan territory and are exploring what such a legal opinion would require.
Venezuela's response and preparations
In response, Caracas has launched a large mobilization of regular armed forces and civilian militias. Units have carried out nationwide exercises and Maduro urged the country's youth at the rally to resist what he described as a potential threat of invasion.
Satellite imagery captured by Vantor on November 10 shows "hedgehog" anti-vehicle obstacles installed on the Caracas–La Guaira highway, the main coastal approach into the capital. These barriers — typically used to slow or block tanks and other military vehicles — were first reported on the road more than a month earlier.
Venezuela's conventional Bolivarian National Armed Forces number roughly 123,000 personnel. Maduro has claimed his volunteer militias include more than 8 million reservists, a figure and the groups' overall readiness that outside experts have questioned.
Reporting contributed by CNN's Avery Schmitz. For more CNN coverage and newsletters, visit CNN.com.