Venezuelan Leader Maduro Vows to ‘Smash Teeth of North American Empire’ as U.S. Escalates Pressure

By Newsmax Wires | Friday, 12 December 2025 05:04 PM EST

Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro escalated hostile rhetoric toward the United States this week, declaring in a public speech that his regime stands ready to “smash the teeth of the North American empire” amid rising tensions with Washington.

During a televised rally, Maduro mixed threats with spectacle, singing a rendition of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” dancing on stage, and urging Venezuelans to “fight back” against what he characterized as U.S. aggression. The performance appeared designed to project confidence as his government faces growing international pressure.

Maduro also invoked nationalist symbolism by holding the sword of independence leader Simon Bolivar while calling on supporters to remain on “maximum alert.” He accused the United States of attempting to destabilize Venezuela and undermine its sovereignty, stating: “In these times, things have to be different, but we must always stand like warriors, women and men. With one eye wide open — and the other one too — working, producing, building, keeping everything running, and ready to smash the teeth of the North American empire if necessary, from Bolivar’s homeland.”

The remarks followed U.S. authorities seizing an oil tanker it described as part of a shadow fleet illegally transporting Venezuelan crude in violation of sanctions. Maduro condemned the seizure, alleging that the United States had “kidnapped the crew” and “stolen the ship,” calling it the start of a new era of “criminal naval piracy” in the Caribbean. He stated Venezuela would move to secure its vessels to guarantee global oil trade.

The rhetoric comes as the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Maduro by tightening sanctions, stepping up maritime enforcement, and maintaining criminal indictments against the dictator and senior regime figures over alleged narcotics trafficking. Tensions have escalated after months of U.S. maritime strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels. More than 80 people have been killed since September, alongside heightened surveillance and security crackdowns in coastal areas.

Late Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on three nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, along with six crude oil supertankers and their associated shipping companies. The Treasury Department stated that these vessels engaged in deceptive and unsafe practices that provided financial support to Maduro’s regime. The U.S. has also offered a multimillion-dollar reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. President Donald Trump raised the prospect of land strikes and potential boots on the ground in Venezuela to combat what he calls narco-terrorism.