(MENAFN) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated Wednesday that his nation seeks peace in the Caribbean, rejecting what he described as US “imperialist ambitions” that threaten regional stability, according to reports.

“We do not want war in the Caribbean or in Latin America -- we only want peace,” Maduro said during a meeting of the National Sovereignty and Peace Council in Caracas.

He accused Washington of expanding its military footprint in the region and attempting to “impose a single way of thinking, a single system, and a single authority,” declaring that “this era is long over.” Maduro also blamed the CIA for “negative events” in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Argentina, and Chile, urging Latin American countries to unite against what he called US interference.

“The Venezuelan people are dignified, compassionate, and hardworking. They are trying to create a narrative in which Venezuelans are portrayed as bad, while superior, racist whites are portrayed as good,” he added. “It is time to end the discriminatory and xenophobic discourse that equates Venezuelan identity with criminal organizations that have already been dismantled in our country.”

Maduro’s comments came amid rising tensions over increased US military activity near Venezuelan waters. A decree signed by US President Donald Trump authorized broader deployment of American forces to counter Latin American drug cartels. Following this, US warships and submarines were stationed off Venezuela’s coast in late August.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later stated that American forces are prepared for operations in Venezuela, including regime change if necessary. In response, Maduro mobilized 4.5 million militia members, asserting that the country is ready to defend itself against any potential aggression.

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