Maduro slams US after second strike on Venezuelan vessel
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Venezuela's president accuses Washington of waging an imperialist war on Venezuela after US forces struck a boat for the second time in weeks, killing three people.
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro points at a map of the Americas during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, September 15, 2025. (AP)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said, commenting on a US strike targeting a second Venezuelan boat, that the ongoing events represent “an imperialist effort by the United States to seize Venezuela’s resources and install a puppet government.”
He added that the only way to counter, neutralize, and defeat the US threat is through national unity, stressing that “the United States is waging an unethical war against Venezuela, in blatant violation of international law.”
This comes shortly after US President Donald Trump alleged on Monday that US forces had targeted another Venezuelan vessel, killing three people he described as "terrorists transporting narcotics". The operation, he claimed, expanded his administration’s campaign against drug cartels and broadened the scope of military force used to stop them.
It was the second US strike on a vessel in two weeks, following an earlier incident on September 2.
Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela
Maduro had earlier warned that his country is waging a “great battle for the truth” to preserve peace, accusing foreign powers of escalating military and political pressure against his government.
At a press conference with international media on Monday, Maduro said Venezuela had recently been threatened by “the presence of missile boats and a nuclear submarine,” adding that he and senior officials, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, had received personal threats.
He cited an incident involving the USS Jason Dunham, which he said “illegally confronted” a Venezuelan fishing vessel in national waters, calling it a deliberate attempt to “undermine Venezuelan sovereignty.”
“This aggression has a judicial, political, and military nature, which justifies the legitimate defense of the country,” Maduro said. “Our response has been to empower the people of Venezuela, train them, and defend our truth.”
Venezuela facing all-out aggression
The Bolivarian leader described Venezuelans as “honest people and revolutionaries of the 21st century,” arguing that this identity has made the nation a target. He claimed Venezuela faces “all-out aggression,” not just geopolitical “tensions,” and urged citizens to remain united in defense of their sovereignty.
Maduro stressed that empowerment is central to his administration’s strategy, portraying Venezuelans not as passive observers but as active participants in national defense. “We are training the people; we are defending our truth,” he said, framing civic engagement as part of national security.
He also called on international media to undertake “a great ethical effort to show the truth” about Venezuela, arguing that biased narratives fuel instability. “This is not only a struggle for peace but also a struggle against misinformation,” he said, urging journalists to counter external agendas with responsible reporting.
Maduro’s remarks come amid heightened tensions over maritime incidents and broader disputes with foreign governments. His appeal sought to rally domestic solidarity while challenging how Venezuela’s situation is portrayed abroad, positioning accurate reporting as an essential component of peace and sovereignty.
