Nicolas Maduro

The truth has been revealed.

The intention is a change of regime in Venezuela to impose a puppet government that wouldn't even last for 47 hours, that would hand over the constitution, the sovereignty and all its wealth, that would turn Venezuela into a colony.

This will just not happen.

Never, never, never.

Venezuela will never be a colony of anything or anyone.

And it's important to bear in mind that those sanctions are an administrative measure.

So he's not being convicted in court of any crime.

Speaking to reporters, President Trump said the U.S.

controls the sea and they are now looking to strike land.

The U.S.

has deployed a destroyer and a cruiser as well as some 10,000 U.S.

troops to the Caribbean saying they want to stop drugs from flowing north.

In a speech in Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the U.S.

was vilifying Venezuela in an attempt to topple his government.

He called on the American public to reject aggression, saying the region didn't need a return of a swashbuckling American empire.

Say no to war in the Caribbean and in South America.

Say yes to peace, Maduro said.

Ada Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.