The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro , denounced this Friday the military deployment of the United States in the waters of the Caribbean as an"immoral, criminal and illegal" plan against his country, which seeks a"regime change."

The United States has sent three warships to Caribbean waters near Venezuela as part of a plan to combat drug trafficking, although Maduro views it as a"threat."

"What they are threatening to do against Venezuela, a change of regime, a military terrorist attack, is immoral, criminal and illegal," Maduro said at an event with deputies in Parliament.

The United States accuses Maduro of leading an alleged drug trafficking gang known as the Cartel of the Suns, which Trump has classified as a terrorist organization. It is also offering a $50 million reward for information leading to the leftist leader's capture.

"This is an issue of peace, of international law, of Latin America and the Caribbean, because whoever attacks one in Latin America attacks everyone, and whoever threatens one threatens all countries," added the president, who also called for national unity.

This week, Maduro ordered the deployment of 4.5 million militia members, a civilian-affiliated unit of the Armed Forces, and called for a military enlistment call this weekend to expand its ranks.

Washington rejects Maduro's recent reelection to a third six-year term, which it and the opposition dismissed as fraudulent.

The US will"thoroughly" review visa applications from fans for the 2026 World Cup; entry will be "more difficult" for some countries, Trump says.