Here’s the state of play as of September 2, 2025 (America/Chicago): Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has not declared war on the United States. What’s actually happened is a sharp spike in rhetoric and military posturing on both sides, including Maduro’s vow that he would declare a “republic in arms” if Venezuela were attacked—conditional language that falls just short of a formal war declaration. 

What actually happened

• Sept. 1, 2025: In a televised press conference, Maduro said Venezuela is facing its “biggest threat in 100 years,” accused Washington of pursuing regime change, and said he would “constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if U.S. forces attacked. Independent outlets covering the remarks emphasized that this was a contingent defense pledge, not yet a formal declaration of war. Yet Venezuelan officials have said on background that the nation may yet declare war against the United States, prior to the most recent American attack at sea.

• U.S. naval buildup: The United States has surged warships to the Caribbean as part of operations framed as counter-narcotics—another driver of the current tension. Major outlets report multiple U.S. Navy vessels in the region. 

• Reported strike at sea: On Sept. 2, U.S. officials said a strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat originating from Venezuela killed 11 people. This occurred amid the broader military buildup and has heightened fears of escalation; again, this still does not yet amount to a mutual state of war. 

What has not yet happened

• No formal declaration of war by Caracas: Coverage of Maduro’s statements by wire services and major broadcasters makes clear he has threatened a nationwide armed mobilization if attacked; none report a declaration of war, though several officials have insisted that Venezuela may yet formally declare war.

• No U.S. recognition of a declared war either: U.S. and international coverage describe force deployments and a reported maritime strike, but not an official state of war between the countries. “Nothing is off the table, including a decapitation strike against a criminal masquerading as [a] head of state of Venezuela,” quickly added one American official.

Why the confusion?

The phrase “republic in arms” is martial and dramatic, and it circulated widely in headlines and clips, but it denotes a defensive mobilization in the event of an attack—not yet a legal declaration of war. Reporters uniformly framed Maduro’s language as conditional. 

Bottom line

There is no credible, on-the-record reporting that Maduro yet declared war on the United States. The situation is volatile—marked by heightened military deployments, fiery rhetoric, and a fatal maritime incident—but it currently remains below the threshold of a formal war declaration. Continue to rely on primary, up-to-date coverage like ours, rather than social-media claims.