STORY: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday (October 23) issued an emphatic plea for peace, rejecting war and advocating for harmony during remarks broadcast on state television.

In a mix of Spanish and English, Maduro declared, "No war... Yes peace, forever."

Maduro referred to his message as done in a "Tarzania language", referring to being related to 'Tarzan'. He concluded by reaffirming his stance, saying, "no to the war of the madmen, no to the madness of war."

The president's remarks come in a context where the U.S. has escalated its military operations targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The strikes in the Caribbean have killed at least 32 people, but the Trump administration has provided few details, such as how many alleged drugs the targeted vessels were carrying or what specific evidence it had to suggest they were carrying drugs.

Trump also reiterated plans to strike targets on the ground in Venezuela, which would be an escalation. He said if he takes this step, his administration likely would inform the U.S. Congress.

Maduro has denied any involvement in drug trafficking and condemned the U.S. strikes as violations of Venezuelan sovereignty.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITE FROM VENEZUELA PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO SPEAKING ENGLISH AND CALLING FOR PEACE WITH THE U.S.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 23, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish and English) VENEZUELA PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

''Not to war, not to war. (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES IN ENGLISH) Not war, not war, not war. Yes peace, yes peace, forever, forever, forever, peace forever. No crazy war, (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES IN SPANISH) no to crazy war, (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES IN ENGLISH) no crazy, no crazy war, no crazy war, please, please, please. Yes peace, peace forever, peace forever, victory forever and peace, victory forever and peace. (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES IN SPANISH:) This is called 'Tarzania' language (referring to Tarzan) or, if translated into Spanish, it would be: no war, no war, no desire for war, no to the war of the madmen, no to the madness of war. That would be the true translation: yes to peace, yes to peace, yes to peace forever."