Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejected on Friday (December 26) what he characterized as attempts to impose a "model of colonial and slave domination" on his country by the United States.

Flanked by key cabinet members, Maduro told the Council of Sectoral Vice Presidents that U.S. efforts to "steal" Venezuela's natural resources would fail, and accused Washington of fabricating a "virtual reality" to justify intervention.

The remarks come as tensions between the two nations intensify.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The Trump administration has deployed thousands of troops to the Caribbean alongside an aircraft carrier, warships, and fighter jets, while conducting strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the region.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO MEETING WITH OFFICIALS

2. VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS DURING MEETING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTS ON SHOT OF MADURO DURING MEETING):

"It is impossible for sectors of U.S. power to fabricate a virtual reality and impose on Bolívar's Venezuela a model of colonial and slave domination to steal its natural resources. That is impossible because here there are people settled in the territory, in communities, in universities, in factories, in barracks, and these people have demonstrated sufficient capacity to lead our homeland on a good path, at a good pace, with good judgment."

4. VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS DURING MEETING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH MEETING IN PROGRESS):

"Our message is of peace, love, and understanding. If someday in the United States someone decides, on the basis of respect, to talk and overcome failed projects of more than 25 years, there will always be a president here who represents his people to extend his hand and seek paths of peace, cooperation, and prosperity. It had to be said, and it was said, in the name of Christ the Redeemer, and so it will be, word pledged forever."

6. MEETING IN PROGRESS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH MEETING IN PROGRESS):

"The press in the United States listen to me (Maduro says in English). Attention U.S. media, pay attention, there is a deep Venezuela you cannot ignore, a strong, powerful Venezuela, that stands tall and seeks peace, seeks peace and builds it, and defends it."

8. MEETING IN PROGRESS