"Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered that the Armed Forces should stay "alert, ready and willing to defend our rights as a nation" after recent threats by Donald Trump and amid a US military buildup in the Caribbean. "Before this solemn act marking the 105 years since the founding of the Military Aviation and the 33 years since the birth of the Bolivarian character of our Bolivarian Military Aviation, I ask you to remain always unshaken in your serenity, alert, ready and willing to defend our rights as a nation, as a free and sovereign homeland," Maduro said. The Venezuelan leader went on to express his confidence in 'victory' if Venezuela had to declare itself a 'republic in arms'. "And I know that you will never fail Venezuela. I know that Venezuela counts on you if history were to demand it, that we would declare ourselves a republic in arms, once again history would see us rise, once again history would see us rise with the sacred standard of Miranda and Bolivar, the yellow, the blue, the red, the eight stars," he stated. The comments came during an event marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Bolivarian Military Aviation and after Trump had warned that Maduro could "do things the easy way… or the hard way". Washington has significantly bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean since September, in what it says is an effort to curb drug trafficking towards US shores.  Critics, including UN officials and human rights organisations, warn that any military action could constitute an unlawful use of force under international law.  Caracas repeatedly denied the allegations and urged Washington to halt its military actions in the Caribbean."