Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López has announced a new phase of ‘Plan Independencia 200’, deploying 200,000 troops along with air and naval forces across the country. Speaking in Caracas, Padrino said the operation aims to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty amid growing tensions with the United States, following a series of US operations against alleged “narco-speedboats” in Caribbean waters near Venezuela. He accused Washington of “intimidation” and “aggression”, claiming that US forces are acting as mercenaries and killing “defenceless people” without due process. The minister vowed to make the Caribbean Sea closed to US interests, reaffirming loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro. Watch the video to find out more.