Venezuela's defence minister says country ready to defend homeland amid Trump tensions

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Venezuela's National Bolivarian Armed Forces carried out nationwide military exercises aimed at defending the country on Tuesday as tensions continue to rise with the United States. According to the Venezuelan government, the military exercise, which began at 4:00 a.m. local time, is known as “Plan Independencia 200” and will continue until Wednesday. The U.S. has carried out more than a dozen strikes since September on vessels near the Venezuelan coast and more recently, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing more than 70 people, according to the U.S. defence secretary, as it escalates a military buildup in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. has alleged, without presenting evidence, that the boats it bombed were transporting drugs, but foreign leaders, some members of Congress, legal experts and family members of those killed have called for proof. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Donald Trump of seeking to topple his government, an allegation the U.S. president has downplayed despite reports of the administration's close contact with Venezuela's opposition. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews