Venezuela's second-most powerful official, Diosdado Cabello, downplayed growing concerns over a large U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, saying that "nothing much will happen" despite ongoing tensions.
Speaking at a ruling-party congress broadcast on state television, Cabello nonetheless urged the population to remain ready "for the worst."
"Here nothing much will happen, but our historic obligation is to be prepared for anything," Cabello said, while calling on supporters to continue consolidating the Bolivarian project "in these difficult moments." He also warned foreign governments against intervention, saying that anyone who "messes with Venezuela" faces "a fight of years, decades, and maybe centuries" as local news site El Nacional reports.
Cabello accused the United States of conducting a "ferocious campaign" and a "siege" against Venezuela and said Washington controls "media structures" capable of shaping public opinion. Caracas has claimed the U.S. naval and air deployment—publicly framed by Washington as a counternarcotics mission—is instead part of a plan to force regime change and install a "puppet" government to seize Venezuela's natural resources, including oil.
His latest remarks contrast sharply with comments he made in mid-October, when he described the situation as an imminent threat and said the government was mobilizing regional allies. At the time, Cabello said he had received messages from foreign security forces "whose governments are not necessarily close to us," adding that "military and police forces from other countries will come to Venezuela to support this nation."
He encouraged "the peoples of the world" to organize in defense of Venezuela and said any help would be "welcomed like brothers."
Cabello also said at the time of the United States that, "they have no idea who they're facing, we'll eat them alive," and declaring that if U.S. troops entered Venezuela, "we will kick you out."
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, in the meantime, said on Tuesday that his government maintains "daily and ongoing communication" with Russia and that Caracas and Moscow are "advancing" in what he described as calm but productive military cooperation that "will continue."
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