Venezuela’s president says the U.S. is fabricating a war as aircraft carrier approaches

CARACAS (AP) — Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro said the United States government is forging a war against him as the world’s biggest warship approaches the South American country.

In a national broadcast on Friday night, Maduro accused the administration of President Donald Trump of “fabricating a new eternal war.”

The U.S. government has increased the pressure on Maduro by taking the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which can host up to 90 airplanes and attack helicopters, closer to Venezuela.

“They promised they would never again get involved in a war and they are fabricating a war that we will avoid,” said Maduro. Trump has accused him, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organized crime gang Tren de Aragua.

“They are fabricating an extravagant narrative,