Venezuela has issued its fiercest warning yet as President Nicolas Maduro strengthened the Bolivarian Militia and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez declared readiness to confront U.S. forces. As Donald Trump deployed seven warships and a submarine to the Caribbean to “target cartels,” Caracas announced the mobilization of 15,000 troops on its western front. In a fiery televised address, Padrino Lopez vowed to defend Venezuela’s “sacred sovereignty” against U.S. aggression, while accusing Washington of trying to dominate the Caribbean. Is the region edging closer to open conflict?