Maduro: Venezuela ‘Ready For Battle’ If Trump Imposes Blockade

By Staff, Agencies

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his country was “prepared for battle” if the US imposes a quarantine, and said his envoy to the UN would denounce the “illegal” threat before the Security Council.

“We are all prepared for battle if anyone tries to impose a quarantine or blockade on Venezuela,” Maduro said, speaking at an event in the state of La Guaira on Friday afternoon, adding that the threat only shows the “desperation and irritation” of the US government.

"Not in Venezuela! is my message to criminal imperialism," Maduro said.

The Venezuelan President was responding to a remark by US President Donald Trump from Thursday, when he told reporters outside the White House he was considering a blockade of Venezuela due to “foreign involvement” of Russia, China and Iran.

“Yes, I am,” Trump said, repeating it several times before boarding a helicopter.