Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has accused the United States of carrying out intelligence flights in the Caribbean and areas close to Venezuela, describing the operations as “provocative steps with the intention of provoking war.”

Speaking to state broadcaster VTV on Sunday, Padrino said: “Every day in September, and even last night, intelligence aircraft and tankers were refueling in the air. Intelligence and reconnaissance operations against Venezuela tripled in August.”

The minister voiced concern over air safety, stressing that the U.S. does not share its flight plans. “The Armed Forces are prepared for any eventuality. If necessary, we can intervene in each flight individually or collectively. We know what they are doing, and we know that their deployments in the Caribbean carry the intention of starting a war,” he said.

Padrino added that, on the orders of President Nicolás Maduro, militia forces across the country will continue their military training every Saturday. He underlined that these exercises are intended to keep Venezuela prepared against possible U.S. aggression.

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated in recent months. U.S. President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order calling for greater military involvement in combating Latin American drug cartels. As part of that strategy, the Navy destroyers USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson were deployed near Venezuela’s coast in late August.

In response, Caracas announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militiamen nationwide, with Maduro declaring that the country was ready to repel any attack.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated that the American military was prepared for a “regime change operation” in Venezuela — a statement Caracas denounced as a direct threat to its sovereignty. (ILKHA)