According to Reuters and other foreign media reports, Venezuelan Vice President Rodriguez said on 29 local time that President Maduro had signed a decree that would come into effect immediately once the U.S. military "dare to launch an aggression".
According to the report, the decree will allow Maduro to mobilize armed forces nationwide and give the military control over public services and the oil industry.
Rodriguez said at a meeting with diplomats on the 29th that what the U.S. government and U.S. Secretary of State marco rubio did to Venezuela was "a threat". She said that any U.S. military action will be regarded as external aggression, and the "external turmoil order" will take effect immediately.
AFP added that Maduro said last week that he would submit the decree for consideration. It is unclear when the agreement was signed. According to the Venezuelan Constitution, these authorities are valid for 90 days, with the option to extend for another 90 days.
At the time of the announcement, the U.S. had deployed a fleet in the Caribbean, which Washington said was aimed at combating drug trafficking in the region. Faced with U.S. military threats and recent earthquakes, Venezuelan President Maduro announced on 25th that it would hold national civil defense exercises on 27th. According to U.S. media reports, the U.S. government is preparing to fight the so-called “drug trafficking group” in the country in the coming weeks.