(MENAFN) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has commanded the nation's air force to maintain "ready and resolute" readiness for national defense, following US President Donald Trump's threats of ground military operations in the region.

The Pentagon has positioned warships throughout the Caribbean and executed strikes against small Venezuelan vessels allegedly utilized for narcotics smuggling—operations Washington characterizes as counter-drug efforts but Caracas condemns as unlawful. US officials have repeatedly accused Maduro of presiding over a cartel-connected government and suggested that direct military intervention could materialize. Maduro, who contends Washington seeks his overthrow, denies the drug-trafficking charges and has cautioned Washington against initiating "a crazy war."

During Thursday remarks, Maduro expressed confidence that Venezuela would triumph if circumstances forced it to declare itself a "republic in arms," instructing Bolivarian Military Aviation personnel to remain "alert and ready."

"I ask you to always remain serene, alert, ready and willing to defend our rights as a nation, as a free and sovereign homeland," he told troops. Maduro stated 82% of Venezuelans had proclaimed readiness to defend the country "with weapons in hand."

His statements emerged as Trump claimed the US would imminently expand operations to stop Venezuelan drug shipments overland, providing no evidence for the timeline or magnitude of the threat. Addressing service members at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Trump commended the Air Force's 7th Bomb Wing and asserted that US initiatives had already reduced maritime trafficking by approximately 85%. He stated traffickers were "killing hundreds of thousands" of Americans with the drugs they send north and declared land-based operations would commence immediately.

That same day, Venezuela revoked operating permits for six major international airlines that suspended flights following a US aviation advisory, further isolating the country's air connectivity. The civil aviation authority stated Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Latam, Turkish Airlines, and Gol had aligned with "state terrorism promoted by the United States" by halting services. The carriers ceased flights after the US FAA warned of a "potentially hazardous" security situation over Venezuelan airspace, a claim Caracas rejected, saying the regulator has no jurisdiction.

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