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The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel congratulated his ally Nicolás Maduro on his birthday this Sunday amid tensions between the Venezuelan regime and the U.S.
“Dear brother Nicolás Maduro, receive our sincerest congratulations on your birthday on behalf of the Party, the government, and the Cuban people. No Yankee pretension can undermine your steadfastness, courage, and unwavering commitment to the Bolivarian and Chavista homeland,” he wrote on X.
Many Cubans have responded to the congratulatory message among dictators by alluding to the end of their regimes: "I don't think it will be long now" or "Tick tock, tick tock" have been some of the remarks.
"Between dictators and criminals, they congratulate each other"; "As a parting gift, he will go live in a maximum-security box in NY"; "The last birthday as a dictator" have been some of the comments with which Cubans and Venezuelans have trolled those who oppress them.
Maduro's birthday arrives on a weekend when tensions with the U.S. have reached their peak.
This Saturday, the Reuters agency revealed that the U.S. government has decided to move to a new phase of operations with Venezuela in the coming days.
The news was communicated to Reuters by four officials from the Trump Administration, one of whom stated that the options being considered included attempting to overthrow Maduro.
The news agency, however, was unable to determine the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump had made the final decision to act.
However, two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, cited by Reuters, stated that covert operations could be the next step against Maduro's regime.
The CIA and the White House did not comment on this matter.
Two U.S. officials stated that. The four officials quoted in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the imminent action by the United States.
"President Trump is ready to use all the resources of American power to prevent drugs from continuing to enter our country and to bring those responsible to justice," said one of the officials
The Venezuelan regime assures that it will respond with its "head held high."
The Venezuelan responsecame through the regime's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who stated that Maduro's government responds with "head held high" in the face of the U.S. threat.
The military leader of the regime, however, acknowledged the U.S. military deployment as a "threat," in an appearance this Saturday on state television.
Padrino labeled the U.S. as "one of the most genocidal empires in humanity" and acknowledged its power "from every standpoint: technological, economic, financial, military, always to cause harm and to preserve its interests."
"American imperialism threatened us even more with bomber planes, missile ships, and nuclear-powered submarines in the Caribbean. And what did we do? We responded with greater national unity," he said.
The military stated that “no threat, no aeronaval deployment, no matter how powerful or intimidating it might attempt to be” will take away their path of “freedom and independence.”
Airlines cancel flights to Venezuela following U.S. warning.
This Saturday it was also revealed that six international airlines temporarily suspended their operations in Venezuela following a safety warning issued by the United States.
The Spanish airline Iberia, the Portuguese TAP, the Colombian Avianca, the Trinidadian Caribbean Airlines, the Brazilian GOL, and the Chilean LATAM suspended their flights to and from Venezuela this Saturday.
The decision came after the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) alerted about an "increase in military activity" and a deterioration of safety conditions in the airspace of the Caribbean nation.
The president of the Airlines Association of Venezuela (ALAV), Marisela de Loaiza, confirmed to EFE that the six airlines chose to cancel their operations due to the warning, which particularly affects the flight information area of Maiquetía, where international arrivals and departures are concentrated.
The Spanish newspaper El País also reported that the FAA has not prohibited flights over Venezuela, but has advised airlines to "exercise extreme caution" due to "a potential risk situation" associated with the increase of military maneuvers within or around Venezuelan territory.
The notice, which will be in effect until February 19, also requires companies to notify 72 hours in advance if they plan to enter Venezuelan airspace.
The regional context adds greater concern. El País notes that the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, the largest and most modern in the world, was recently added to Washington's naval deployment in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Launch, a campaign that the United States presents as a fight against drug trafficking, but which has generated political tensions and speculation about possible actions against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro dancing: "No one can stop me"
On Friday, the ruler Nicolás Maduro once again made a fool of himself dancing to the rhythm of a song that reflects his unique attempt to speak in English.
" No war, no crazy war, no, no, no, how do you say it in English? Peace, peace, yes peace," is heard repeated by Maduro, singing to the rhythm of the music on Friday during a celebration of Student's Day in Caracas.
"It's Friday, and what happens on Friday? What are we going to do today? In peaceful Venezuela, Friday night turns into an all-out party, party, party! It's Friday, and I'm going out to party! And nobody can stop me!" was heard from the gathering of students.
In the midst of tensions with the U.S., the Venezuelan dictator asserted that the American "threats" will not stop him.
"Stop the war, no to war, Venezuela wants peace," he added.
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