Colombian mercenaries planning new attack on Venezuela: Maduro

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has accused neighboring Colombia of organizing an imminent attack against the Venezuelan military.

Maduro announced in an address to Venezuela's military forces on Sunday that Colombian mercenaries, backed by President Ivan Duque, were planning to launch attacks against military units and centers in Venezuela in the coming days.

"Colombia is preparing new attacks against the country's military, with trained mercenaries, with funding from Ivan Duque, preparing attacks at the end of this year," Maduro said in his speech, which was shared on Twitter.

The Venezuelan president then ordered the implementation of a plan to protect the country's military bases and facilities within 24 hours, and demanded that all information about Colombia's plot be collected to enhance military readiness.

Maduro also announced that military drills, code-named the "Bolivarian Shield," would be held to protect Venezuela at any time, without specifying the date and location of the exercises.

"The new method is that we will no longer publicly announce the date of these exercises so that the order of operations will remain secret and we will mobilize the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and people," he added.

Maduro also ordered the repair and maintenance of the country's weapons systems with the support of Caracas' allies, including Russia and China.

Maduro: US, Colombia have long plotted to assassinate me

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slams the US and its allies in neighboring Colombia for eliminating him.

Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Colombia in February 2019, citing Bogota's cooperation with the US-backed Venezuelan opposition.

The government in Caracas announced back in May that it had prevented a maritime intrusion by Colombian "terrorist mercenaries," who had arrived on speedboats at the Venezuelan state of La Guaira along its northern coast.

Venezuelan military seizes Colombian combat vessels, weapons

Venezuela says its military forces have seized three abandoned Colombian combat vessels during a patrol operation at Orinoco River, days after Caracas accused Bogota of aiding a failed mercenary attack.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said that the three boats, which had been loaded with weapons, belonged to the Colombian navy.

The Venezuelan president also accused Colombia at the time of attempting to oust him with the help of the United States.

Maduro has on multiple occasions blamed Colombia and the United States for plotting to eliminate him and senior military officials.

Most recently, the Venezuelan leader said earlier in the month that there had been a plan to assassinate him during the country's parliamentary election, blaming his Colombian counterpart for playing a role in the alleged plan.

Venezuela's Maduro says alerted to assassination attempt by neighboring Colombia on election day

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says Colombia had plotted an assassination attempt against him on the election day.

Venezuela has been in political turmoil since the US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido declared himself "interim president" late in January 2019.

The administration of US President Donald Trump, along with a number of its European and regional allies — including Colombia — recognized Guaido's self-proclamation.

Washington has since been mounting economic pressure on Caracas and has repeatedly threatened to use military force to topple Maduro's government.

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