Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of “fabricating a war” against his government as Washington sends the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford toward the country, escalating regional tensions.

Maduro denounced U.S. claims linking him to organized crime as false and said Venezuela is conducting military exercises to defend against possible “covert operations.”

The U.S. has intensified military activity in the Caribbean, including air and naval strikes on alleged drug traffickers that have killed dozens, actions criticized by the UN as illegal, the Al-Jazeera has reported.

Meanwhile, tensions have widened to Colombia, where the U.S. Treasury sanctioned President Gustavo Petro and his officials, deepening the rift between Washington and left-wing governments in the region.