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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says his country possesses 5,000 Russian-made mobile surface-to-air missiles to counter the US military threat and the presence of US forces stationed in the Caribbean.
In a televised ceremony with senior military officials on Wednesday, Maduro said Venezuela has Russian-made Igla-S short-range missiles, describing them as a key component of the country's air defense network.
"Every military force in the world recognizes the power of the Igla-S. We have no less than 5,000 in key air defense positions to ensure peace," he said, emphasizing that the missiles were deployed to protect national sovereignty.
Maduro said the weapons would ensure the country was prepared to respond to "any imperialist threat," adding that Venezuela's armed forces were "ready to defend every inch of the homeland."
The United States has long opposed the leftist leader's rule, and President Donald Trump's administration has stationed a small naval fleet off Venezuela's coast, which Washington says is part of a counternarcotics operation.
US warplanes have destroyed several speedboats, which were allegedly transporting narcotics from Venezuela to the United States, charges that Caracas denies.
Venezuelan officials have condemned the US operations as a violation of the country's sovereignty, accusing Washington of using anti-drug missions as a pretext for aggression.
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