Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of attempting to instigate conflict and orchestrate a coup in Venezuela to gain control over the country’s natural resources.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Maduro made these accusations during his speech at the closing of the Parliamentary Forum of the Greater Caribbean Region in Caracas. He stated, “The United States has tried to wage war against Venezuela, orchestrate a coup, and steal our enormous oil and gas reserves. If we didn’t have these resources, in addition to gold, water, millions of hectares of fertile land, and our strategic geographic location, no one would even be talking about us.”

Maduro’s remarks underscore ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the United States, with the Venezuelan leader frequently accusing the US of meddling in the country’s internal affairs. The speech reflects his continued assertion that Venezuela’s wealth in natural resources is a driving factor behind international interest in the nation’s political landscape.