VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro has warned that a US military build-up in the Caribbean is aimed at overthrowing his government.

Mr Maduro said on Monday that he was ready to “declare a republic in arms” in response to any attack.

He insisted that his country was committed to peace but would respond to any US attack.

Mr Maduro accused the US of “seeking a regime change,” adding that Venezuela was “confronting the biggest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.

“If Venezuela were attacked, we would immediately move to armed struggle in defence of our territory,” he said, vowing to declare “a republic in arms.”

Mr Maduro insisted: “In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela,” adding that the US had sent “eight military ships with 1,200 missiles and a submarine targeting Venezuela.”

The US claims that its massive deployment in the southern Caribbean is aimed at combating Latin American drug cartels.

The US navy currently has two Aegis guided-missile destroyers – the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham – in the region, along with the destroyer USS Sampson and the cruiser USS Lake Erie.

A nuclear-powered fast attack submarine is also reportedly part of the US naval force.