Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over what he called the threat of U.S. "aggression," following a spate of deadly U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.

"Today the consultation process began ... to declare a state of emergency in accordance with the constitution and protect our people, our peace, and our stability if Venezuela were attacked by the American empire, attacked militarily," Maduro said in a televised address.

Earlier in the day, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez told foreign diplomats that Maduro had signed a decree giving himself "special powers" as head of state to act in matters of defense and security in the event the United States "dares to attack our homeland."

A government source, however, told A

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