Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of “fabricating a new war”, after it ordered the world’s largest warship to be sent to the Caribbean.
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.
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