Venezuela's Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, reported this Sunday that the United States is believed to be conducting intelligence flights over Venezuelan territory.
According to the information published by EFE on its official account on X, the military high command stated that these aerial operations constitute acts of espionage and represent a direct threat to national security.
According to the cited agency, the complaint was made in a context in which it stated that Washington seeks to justify a "military threat and intervention plan" to "displace President Nicolás Maduro."
In a press conference broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Padrino López stated that "there have always been intelligence operations of the United States Army aircraft" in the Caribbean, but he added that they have now shifted from daytime to nighttime patterns and early morning hours, and to "tripling, in August, the intelligence and reconnaissance operations against Venezuela."
According to El Universal, Padrino López specified that on Saturday night, tanker aircraft were detected refueling RC-135 spy planes, which are capable of collecting real-time information up to 200 miles, reaching Venezuelan territory.
It also noted the frequent presence of E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft over the Caribbean, specialized in surveillance and early warning.
The outlet added that, on the eve, Caracas reported that U.S. military forces detained a tuna fishing vessel for eight hours while it was sailing in Venezuelan Caribbean waters.
Padrino warned that these deployments are part of a plan to “spark a war in the Caribbean, a war that we Venezuelans and the peoples of the Caribbean do not want.”
Cuban Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez denounced this Sunday on his X account an "illegal assault" by United States military forces on a Venezuelan fishing vessel in the waters of Venezuela's Exclusive Economic Zone.
The diplomat described the event as a "clear violation of International Law" and a "dangerous provocation that threatens the peace of Latin America and the Caribbean."
Both reports coincide with a climate of increasing tension in the Caribbean, marked by the deployment of U.S. warplanes and naval vessels off the coast of Venezuela, and Caracas' military response.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Tensions between Venezuela and the United States
Why does Venezuela accuse the United States of aerial espionage?
The Minister of Defense of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López, reported that the United States is conducting reconnaissance flights over Venezuelan territory, which he considers a direct threat to national security. According to Padrino López, these operations have shifted from a daytime pattern to a nighttime one and have tripled in August, in a context where Washington seeks to justify military intervention to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
What measures is Venezuela taking in response to tensions with the United States?
Venezuela has ordered the deployment of more troops in five strategic states of the country and has intensified patrolling in its territorial waters. The government of Nicolás Maduro has mobilized 25,000 troops and has reinforced military presence in Zulia, Falcón, Nueva Esparta, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro. In addition, the Bolivarian Militia has been activated with massive recruitment drives to confront what they consider a threat of invasion by the United States.
What has been the response of the United States to Venezuela's actions?
The United States has deployed warships and aircraft in the Caribbean as part of drug interdiction operations that also have a political backdrop. The Trump administration has authorized military actions, such as shooting down Venezuelan planes if they pose a threat to its vessels. Additionally, the Pentagon has accused Maduro of leading drug trafficking activities, thereby justifying its military presence in the region.
What role does the Bolivarian Militia play in this conflict?
The Bolivarian Militia has been activated to strengthen the defense of Venezuela in light of rising tensions with the United States. Established in 2008, this parallel force to traditional military institutions is made up of civilians with ideological military training. Given the current context, the government is seeking to increase its numbers through mass recruitment drives, to address potential threats of foreign intervention.
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