Venezuela's Maduro says US 'fabricating war' after it deployed huge warship

The deployment marks a major escalation in what the US says is a campaign against drug traffickers, which Trump warns will include "land action".

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The USS Gerald R Ford can carry up to 90 aircraft and its deployment marks a massive increase in US firepower in the region.

The US has conducted 10 air strikes on vessels in the area as part of what it says is a war on drug traffickers.

US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of being the leader of a drug-trafficking organisation, which he denies, and there are fears in Venezuela that the US military build-up is aimed at removing the long-time opponent of Trump from power.

The US is among many nations that do not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader, after the last election in 2024 was widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. Opposition tallies from polling stations showed its candidate had won by a landslide.