Rodriguez told foreign diplomats that Maduro had signed a decree giving himself “special powers” as head of state to act in matters of defense and security in the event the United States “dares to attack our homeland.”

A government source, however, told AFP that Maduro had not yet signed the document.

“The vice president presented the document to show that everything was ready and that the president can decree it at any time,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The left-wing authoritarian Maduro placed Venezuela on high alert over a major US military deployment near his country’s coast.

US President Donald Trump has deployed eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean as part of a stated plan to combat drug trafficking, but which appears particularly aimed at pressuring Maduro.

US forces have destroyed at least three suspected drug boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 14 people in a move decried as “extrajudicial execution” by UN experts.

Now, US military officials are drawing up options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela’s borders, according to a report by US news outlet NBC, citing four sources familiar with the discussions.

Declaring a state of emergency would allow Maduro, whose disputed reelection last year was not recognised by much of the international community, to temporarily suspend Venezuelans’ basic rights.

Rodriguez was confident that Venezuelans would unite behind Maduro in the event of a US attack.

“Venezuela is united in the defence of our country,” she said, vowing: “We will never surrender our homeland.”