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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said yesterday he “would constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if the South American country were attacked by forces that the United States government has deployed to the Caribbean.

His comments during a news conference come as the US government this week is set to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

The US has not signalled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed.