Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro issued a rare plea to Donald Trump in English, calling for peace between Caracas and Washington amid escalating tensions following a series of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific.
“Yes peace, yes peace forever. Peace forever. No crazy war, please!” Maduro said in English during a meeting with pro-government labor unions in Caracas. His comments were met with applause from the audience. Switching between Spanish and English, he repeated the appeal several times: “No war. No war. No crazy war. Yes peace. Please, peace forever.”
Currently, nearly 14% of the U.S. Navy’s entire fleet is positioned in the Caribbean, representing a major show of force. In a significant deployment, President Trump has sent 4,000 troops to the Caribbean aboard a flotilla of ships including the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, multiple P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser.
Critics argue that instead of making empty statements about peace, Maduro should take stronger action against drug fields. Recently, President Trump targeted another Tren de Aragua boat, killing six individuals. However, the United Nations has condemned the strikes, claiming they amount to “executions.”
### A Russian Weapons Threat
According to anonymous defense experts cited by The Latin Times, U.S. naval forces operating off the coast of Venezuela could face a credible threat from Russian-made anti-ship missiles in the event of a military confrontation. The outlet also alleges that an attack killed a fisherman and his family, and asserts that drugs primarily get through via cargo vessels rather than small boats. However, the U.S. CIA disputes this claim.
Meanwhile, both Democrats and some Republicans have expressed displeasure with the current drug war strategy and the practice of blowing up drug vessels.
As tensions between the two nations continue to rise, the calls for peace by President Maduro highlight the volatile nature of the situation in the Caribbean region.
https://www.independentsentinel.com/tyrannical-president-maduro-begs-trump-for-peace-no-crazy-war/