Venezuela's Maduro Rejects US Military Pressure: "We Want Peace With Sovereignty, Not A Slave's Peace"

President Nicolas Maduro declared to thousands of Venezuelan supporters on Monday that his country refuses to accept "a slave's peace" in response to what he described as months of "testing" by US military deployments.

The tension has escalated as US President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Maduro's government through a significant naval presence in the Caribbean, conducting strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels and issuing warnings about Venezuelan airspace.

"We want peace, but peace with sovereignty, equality, freedom! We do not want a slave's peace, nor the peace of colonies!" Maduro proclaimed at a Caracas rally, coinciding with Trump's scheduled meeting with top national security officials to discuss Venezuela.

The United States has positioned the world's largest aircraft carrier and additional warships in Latin America and has designated an alleged drug cartel allegedly operated by Maduro as a terrorist organization.

Since September, US forces have conducted strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, reportedly resulting in at least 83 fatalities, though without providing evidence these were drug traffickers.

Human rights organizations have challenged the legality of these strikes, regardless of whether the targets were involved in drug trafficking.

While Washington maintains the military deployment aims to combat regional drug trafficking, Caracas contends regime change is the true objective, prompting Maduro to enhance Venezuela's military readiness.

"We have endured 22 weeks of aggression that can be described as psychological terrorism, 22 weeks during which they have tested us. The people of Venezuela have demonstrated their love for the homeland," Maduro stated on Monday.

Trump recently escalated tensions by warning that Venezuelan airspace should be considered "closed," fueling concerns about potential military intervention.

The US President confirmed Sunday he had spoken with Maduro for the first time since returning to office in January, though he provided no details of their conversation. Maduro has repeatedly expressed willingness to meet with Trump personally.

Hundreds of government supporters marched through Caracas on Monday, protesting against US "threats" toward their nation, which continues to struggle with economic difficulties and political instability.

"We are a free homeland, we do not want war, we want peace!" declared protester Narciso Torrealba, a 68-year-old community leader, to AFP.

"We are ready to dialogue with whoever we need to, but never to renounce the sovereignty of our country, never to sell out the homeland," added 54-year-old Cirilo Cazorla.