Maduro’s Defiance Masks Venezuela’s Growing Threat to U.S. Security

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro once again declared his country stands firm against what he calls an "embestida"—or offensive—by the United States. But beneath this rhetoric lies a troubling reality: Venezuela remains a dangerous partner in the narcotics trade that threatens America’s southern border and national security.In a state-broadcast speech marking the 80th anniversary of World War II's end in the Pacific, Maduro painted himself as a defiant defender of Venezuelan sovereignty, accusing Washington of imperial ambitions aimed at seizing the nation’s vast natural resources. While invoking patriotic fervor and claiming unity among Venezuelans, Maduro conveniently sidestepped recent credible U.S. intelligence...