Venezuela is on high alert as President Nicolas Maduro lashes out at reports suggesting he might step down in three years, calling them the work of "imbeciles." Standing beside Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro rejected the claims, while Caracas braces for possible US military action. President Donald Trump has authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, following a series of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, which have killed at least 27 people. Maduro condemned the operations and mobilised troops and militias across key regions. With warships, jets, and B-52 bombers in the Caribbean, tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, leaving the future uncertain.