President Donald Trump has warned that, if Venezuelan jets fly over US naval ships and put us in a dangerous position, they'll be shot down.
His warning comes after Venezuela flew military aircraft near a US vessel off South America for the second time in two days, US officials told CBS News.
The reports follow a US strike against what Trump officials said was a drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela operated by a gang, killing 11 people.
President Nicolás Maduro has stated that US allegations about Venezuela are not true and that differences between the countries do not justify a military conflict.
Venezuela has always been willing to talk, to engage in dialogue, but we demand respect, he added.
During a press briefing, Trump stated that if Venezuelan jets fly over US vessels again, they would be in trouble. He indicated that the military could take decisive action if necessary.
Since taking office in January, Trump has intensified efforts against drug trafficking in Latin America, directly addressing the flow of drugs from Venezuela into the US.
Responding to Trump's aggressive stance, Maduro accused the US of attempting to impose regime change through military threats.
Amid heightened military activity, the US has deployed additional naval vessels and personnel in the Caribbean. The White House recently announced the dispatch of 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.
Trump underscored the need for strong measures against drugs, emphasizing, We don't want drugs killing our people, and referenced ongoing challenges posed by Venezuelan drug cartels.
In previous statements, Trump has placed blame on Maduro, accusing him of being involved with significant drug trafficking and related offenses, further complicating US-Venezuela relations.
