President Nicolás Maduro condemned the deployment of three US warships off Venezuela’s coast, calling it an “illegal” regime change attempt. The Trump administration escalated pressure on Maduro by doubling the drug trafficking bounty to $50 million. Maduro accused the US of using drug trafficking as a pretext for intervention. The US confirmed sending an amphibious squadron with 3 guided missile destroyers and 4,000 marines, expected to arrive by August 24. Maduro called for mobilizing millions of militia members to confront US “threats.” n18oc_crux