Maduro Urges Washington to Avoid "Crazy War" with His Country

SadaNews - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro issued a call in English to the United States on Thursday - Friday, saying "No to a crazy war, please," amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas.

Maduro's comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, coinciding with an increase in the U.S. military campaign against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

During a meeting with loyal union leaders, Maduro said, "Yes to peace, yes to peace forever, peace forever. No to a crazy war, please."

The United States has deployed aircraft and warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of what it calls anti-drug efforts, despite not providing evidence so far that the targets it has struck, including eight boats and a submarine, were involved in smuggling.

Flight tracking data indicated that at least one U.S. B-1 bomber flew over the Caribbean and Venezuela's coast on Thursday, marking the second display of U.S. air power within a week.

Trinidad and Tobago also announced on Thursday that a U.S. warship will visit the country for joint military exercises near the coast of Venezuela.

The U.S. strikes that began on September 2 have resulted in the death of at least 37 people, according to a tally by the Agence France-Presse based on U.S. figures.