• Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claims the U.S. is fabricating a war against Venezuela.
• The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is moving closer to Venezuela, increasing military tensions.
• Maduro accuses the Trump administration of criminalizing Venezuela without evidence.
• The country is conducting military exercises as a defensive response to U.S. actions.
• At least 43 people have died in U.S. operations targeting alleged drug trafficking boats off Venezuela's coast.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has publicly accused the United States government of "fabricating" a war against his country as the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, approaches Venezuela. In a recent national broadcast, Maduro stated that the Trump administration is “fabricating a new eternal war” as part of its strategy against Venezuela, escalating military tensions in the region, according to LA Times, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera.

In his statements, Maduro emphasized the absurdity of the U.S. narrative, claiming, “They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal and totally fake one,” while denying that Venezuela produces cocaine. Tensions have escalated considerably with the U.S. employing increased military forces in the area and launching operations that have resulted in the deaths of at least 43 individuals, according to multiple reports. This military pressure follows Trump's allegations that Maduro leads the Tren de Aragua criminal gang, without offering supporting evidence, as reported by LA Times, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera.

In response to the heightened U.S. military presence, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced that the country is conducting military exercises aimed at coastal defense. These exercises are intended to protect Venezuela from what they perceive as “covert operations” and potential destabilization attempts by the United States. The military exercises follow months of U.S. naval activity in the region, which Maduro claims is a pretext for plans to overthrow his government, according to LA Times and HuffPost.

As the situation continues to evolve, international scrutiny on both Venezuela and U.S. actions is intensifying. Maduro's accusations against the U.S. signal a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape, illustrating the complexities of both domestic and international responses to the escalating conflict. The Venezuelan leadership maintains that these military drills are essential for national security amid ongoing threats, as reiterated by LA Times, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera.