(MENAFN) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared on Monday that his country is ready for “armed struggle” in the event of an attack by the United States.

"Today, Venezuela has more national power, is more united, and is more prepared to preserve its independence and build peace under any circumstances should we have to resort to armed struggle," he stated, emphasizing the nation's strengthened position.

Maduro also announced the mobilization of Venezuela’s militias, asserting that 2.5 million military personnel and militia members have been deployed to defend the country.

Last month, he had mentioned plans to deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to what he described as "outlandish threats" from the US.

He argued that the United States is attempting to provoke a military confrontation as a pretext for an invasion. "What they were looking for was a military incident," Maduro said. "We have not fallen for provocations, nor will we fall for them."

Additionally, he claimed that allegations regarding drug trafficking are merely a cover.

"Everyone knows that the story of drugs and drug trafficking is a plot," he said.

"That's the argument. They want regime change to seize the country's wealth...to control the country's oil reserves."

Maduro further cautioned that turning the Caribbean into a region filled with "gunpowder and missiles" could spark a large-scale conflict.

"The United States and the entire world...know that this is a military operation to intimidate and seek regime change, to destabilize Venezuela...and to seize and steal our oil, gas, iron and gold."

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