Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of attempting to overthrow his government and install a puppet administration to control the country’s vast oil resources. In a televised address on Wednesday, Maduro alleged that Washington, under President Donald Trump, seeks to turn Venezuela into a U.S. colony through political pressure and economic sanctions.

Maduro denounced threats of military intervention and oil embargoes as acts of “barbaric diplomacy,” describing U.S. policy toward Caracas as warlike and imperialist. He claimed that the U.S. aims to dismantle Venezuela’s constitution and sovereignty. Meanwhile, President Trump labeled the Venezuelan government a “foreign terrorist organization,” accusing it of stealing U.S. assets and resources.

The renewed exchange underscores the deepening hostility between Caracas and Washington, with Venezuela’s economic crisis and oil dependency further complicating the standoff. Analysts warn that escalating rhetoric could heighten regional instability and hinder diplomatic resolution efforts.