Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree granting himself broad security powers in the event of a U.S. military incursion, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Monday.
The measure, valid for 90 days with the option of renewal, allows Maduro to mobilise the armed forces nationwide and hand control of public services and the oil industry to the military.
It comes as relations between Washington and Caracas grow increasingly strained. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking while deploying a fleet of warships to the Caribbean. U.S. officials say the deployment is aimed at curbing narcotics smuggling, but Venezuelan authorities see it as preparation for an attack.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has sunk boats it claims were carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing those on board. The legality of those strikes has been questioned by experts. At the same time, NBC News reported that U.S. military planners are drawing up potential strike options on Venezuelan territory.
Rodriguez accused U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of pushing “threats” against Venezuela, telling diplomats the campaign is aimed at destabilising the country.
Despite the public confrontation, Maduro has privately reached out to Washington. Earlier this month, he sent a letter to President Donald Trump, offering to open direct talks and stating that he wanted bilateral ties to be “historic and peaceful.”
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s military has been staging training drills with volunteer militia, teaching civilians how to handle weapons as officials warn of a possible U.S. incursion.
The U.S. State Department has not commented on the decree.
