Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino, has warned that the country will resist the presence of foreign troops following claims by US President Donald Trump that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and removed from the country.
In a video message released early on Saturday, Padrino accused the United States of carrying out an attack during the early morning hours that he said struck civilian areas.
He described the alleged incident as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and said the country’s armed forces remain on high alert.
According to the defence minister, Venezuelan authorities are compiling information on civilians who may have been killed or injured during the reported attack. He said the military would act in defence of the nation’s independence and territorial integrity.
Trump’s claim that Maduro had been captured has not been independently verified. Venezuelan officials have not confirmed the president’s status, but senior government figures said state institutions remain operational.
Padrino condemned what he described as aggression against the Venezuelan people and urged the international community to take note of what Caracas views as a serious escalation by Washington.
The developments mark a sharp deterioration in already strained relations between the United States and Venezuela, raising concerns about regional stability and the risk of further confrontation.
As uncertainty continues over Maduro’s whereabouts and the scale of the alleged attack, international attention remains focused on Caracas amid calls for restraint, verification and diplomatic engagement.