Maduro deploys missiles and rifles to the Venezuelan working class to confront the US.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro recently announced that he will provide missiles and rifles to the country's working class, in what he described as an effort to "defend the homeland" against what he perceives as external threats, especially from the United States.

The measure comes amid growing tensions between Caracas and Washington , which has responded with warnings and military deployments in the region.

At the same time, Maduro banned the use, purchase, sale, and importation of drones throughout Venezuela, as detailed in the new Official Gazette.

Only the State can authorize its use under strict military control, reinforcing the defense narrative against possible foreign incursions.

In a speech broadcast by local media, Maduro called the United States an external aggressor and defended the measure as an act of sovereignty. "No empire will come to touch Venezuela's sacred soil," he declared, while emphasizing the importance of arming the working class to guarantee national security.

The deployment of weapons and the regulation of drones come as the United States announced the deployment of three warships and 4,000 troops to the Caribbean in an effort the White House says seeks to curb drug trafficking and protect hemispheric security.

Karoline Leavitt , a spokeswoman for Donald Trump's administration, said Maduro "is not a legitimate president; he is a fugitive and the head of a narco-terrorist cartel accused in the U.S. of drug trafficking," adding that Washington "will use all its power to stop these criminal networks."

The spokesperson emphasized that " Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drug trafficking and ensure that those responsible pay for their crimes."

Congressman Carlos Giménez also asserted that the Maduro regime "is breaking down," citing figures close to the government who have defected or fled the country.

The clash of statements reflects an escalation of the bilateral confrontation that combines military threats, sanctions and accusations of drug trafficking .

While Maduro is pushing for internal militarization and control over civilian technologies like drones, the United States is strengthening its presence in the region with naval forces and troops on standby, consolidating an unprecedented climate of tension in the Caribbean.