(Reuters) -Venezuela’s Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino said on Thursday that five combat planes had been detected near the country’s coast, in what he characterized as a threat by the United States.
“They are imperialist combat planes that have dared to come close to the Venezuelan coast,” Padrino said from an air base, in comments broadcast on state television, adding information about the planes had been reported to a control tower by an airline, which he did not name.
“The presence of these planes flying close to our Caribbean Sea is a vulgarity, a provocation, a threat to the security of the nation,” Padrino added.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. has deployed a fleet of warships through the Caribbean in an operation Washington says is combating drug trafficking, and has also struck several boats it claims were carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing those aboard.
Experts have questioned the legality of the strikes.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has alleged the U.S. is seeking regime change, but has also offered to engage in talks with U.S. envoy Richard Grenell.
Trump has played down suggestions of regime change, but has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading drug trafficking networks, which the Venezuelan president denies.
(Reporting by Reuters)
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