China's foreign ministry opposed the American naval deployment near Venezuela amid the Trump administration's effort to combat drug cartels and pressure the Maduro regime.

Stance highlights Beijing’s alignment with Caracas as the Trump administration escalates its pressure campaign.

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated after Trump announced the deployment of three US warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to prevent drug trafficking. The move comes a day after US President Donald Trump doubled the bounty to $50 million on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro issued multiple provocative statements as U.S. naval vessels reportedly sail towards the coast of the South American nation, Reuters reported Thursday. Maduro made a series of cryptic statements on Wednesday,

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that more than 4.5 million armed militia members would be deployed across the country this week amid escalating tensions with Washington. Speaking on state television, Maduro said Monday the deployment was part of a “peace plan” and called on the militia members to be “ready, active and armed.”

US President Donald Trump is deploying three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, a source familiar with the move said Wednesday.