Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado conveyed a warning to authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro after winning the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this week: "Either he accepts the terms of a negotiated transition back to democracy or he leaves without any negotiation."
Speaking to Infobae, Machado claimed "Venezuela will soon be free," a likely reference to tensions with the U.S., where the Trump administration has amassed 10,000 troops in the Caribbean.
Machado dedicated the award to U.S. President Donald Trump, writing after the announcement that "today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the U.S., the people of Latin America, and democratic nations of the world as our main allies to achieve Freedom and democracy."
In another passage of the interview, Machado claimed that "the regime declared a war on us, which we didn't want, and the the tools of the citizenship and the support of those who genuinely believe in democracy, we'll win."
In the meantime, however, the Venezuelan regime is conducting a series of military drills across the country to "defend sovereignty, guarantee the future and preserve territorial integrity."
The "Ejercicio Independencia 2000" is taking place across eight of the country's 24 states. It began on Saturday and will take place gradually. Authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro said "Venezuela remains alert, with operational cohesion and willingness to defend its national territory."
Top official Diosdado Cabello said earlier this week that Venezuelans are "peaceful" but warned that they have been "actively" preparing "in all fronts to resist, for as long as needed, from the attacks that want to be conducted on the country."
Cabello also made a threat to the U.S., saying that Washington has "no idea who they're facing-" "We'll eat them alive," he added.
In this context, the U.S. continues to increase its presence in the region, now seeking to install military equipment in Grenada, a country 100 miles from Venezuela.
It is the latest development in the Trump administration's escalation in the Caribbean. Several reports throughout the week have detailed other moves, including that there are now 10,000 troops deployed in the region. They are in Puerto Rico and aboard eight surface warships and a submarine.
Forces have been conducting drills and the U.S. has struck at least four vessels officials claim were carrying drugs that were ultimately set to reach the U.S.
The U.S. has also reportedly moved several military helicopters off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago.
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