Venezuela's Maduro Accuses US of Fabricating War as USS Gerald R. Ford Nears

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the U.S. government under President Donald Trump of fabricating a "new eternal war" against Venezuela as the U.S. Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, approaches Venezuelan waters. Maduro denies U.S. allegations that Venezuela is a hub for cocaine production and criticizes the narrative as "extravagant," "vulgar," and "totally fake." The U.S. deployment aims to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and counter narco-terrorism, with American forces having recently destroyed several boats off the Venezuelan coast linked to drug trafficking. Additionally, Maduro has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship and cancel the passport of opposition politician Leopoldo López, accusing him of encouraging an invasion and supporting U.S. military actions. López, exiled in Spain, has publicly supported the deployment of U.S. ships and attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels. The situation marks a significant escalation of tensions between Caracas and Washington, with the U.S. increasing its military presence in the Caribbean to address security concerns in the Western Hemisphere.