Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Friday, cited by Reuters, that he rejected Trump's claim of a blockade of Caracas, adding that its seas would remain "free and independent", Maduro also said he had requested Venezuela's Envoy to the UN to denounce Trump's "illegal" blockade threat at the UN Security Council.
"Donald Trump says that he is considering imposing a quarantine against Venezuela meaning that no vessel enters or exits [Venezuela's waters]. It is a blockade. I instructed Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, to tell the UN Security Council about the illegal and criminal threat by Donald Trump to introduce a sea blockade and a quarantine against Venezuela", Maduro said live on state TV late on Friday.
Maduro also argued that Trump voiced his threats because of Washington's despair in the face of Venezuela's dignity.
"I am telling Donald Trump that criminal imperialism will not cope with Venezuela. The waters of Venezuela will be free, sovereign and independent. We will sail there the way we chose to. Get ready for a fight if you want to introduce a quarantine against Venezuela", the Venezuelan president pointed out.
Venezuela has long been experiencing a political and economic crisis that intensified in January when US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself to be the country’s interim president after disputing the re-election of incumbent President Maduro.
The United States and 54 other countries recognized Guaido, but Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey, and numerous other countries said they recognize constitutionally-elected Maduro as the only president of Venezuela.
Maduro said Guaido is a US puppet and accused the United States of orchestrating a coup to force a change of government in Venezuela and claim the country’s vast fossil fuel resources.