Maduro declares state of emergency in response to U.S. naval presence in Caribbean

Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree declaring a state of external emergency in response to what his government calls growing “threats” from the United States, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced Monday.

The decree grants Maduro expanded powers in matters of defense and national security in the event of a U.S. military attack. Rodríguez said the measure is necessary due to the presence of U.S. military forces near Venezuelan waters – a deployment Washington says is part of an effort to combat drug trafficking, but which Caracas views as a pretext to force regime change.

Maduro said last week he was considering issuing the decree amid what his government describes as escalating aggression from the United States, and while citing the massive military force the U.