(MENAFN) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro drove through the streets of Caracas on Friday to project calm and daily normalcy as tensions with the United States escalated, according to reports. Footage shared on social media showed Maduro traveling along San Martin Boulevard, one of the city’s busiest roads, highlighting operating shops, bustling traffic, and the festive decorations ahead of year-end celebrations.

“Everything is fine, as you can see. Normal life continues,” Maduro told companions while passing metro stations and decorated streets. Pointing out a nearby metro station and café, he added: “Here we are on San Martin Boulevard. The Caracas metro is operating over there. That’s a nice cafe, I recommend it. The streets are dressed up with decorative lights ahead of the holidays.”

When an aide remarked, “But the whole world says you’re trembling with fear, hiding in tunnels, and never leaving your house,” Maduro replied: “Sending warm greetings to everyone from here, long live our homeland.” He also emphasized national pride, stating, “We are the children of Simon Bolivar.”

Tensions have intensified after the U.S. designated the alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking network “Cartel de los Soles,” reportedly led by Maduro and senior officials, as a foreign terrorist organization. Venezuela rejected the claims, accusing Washington of using the designation to justify potential intervention.

In response to the heightened threat, the U.S. deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its strike group to Latin America, citing anti-drug operations. Maduro, in turn, announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militia members, declaring that Venezuela is ready to repel any aggression.

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