With a picket in front of Fort Buchanan, in Guaynabo, more than a hundred people continued Saturday their offensive against the increased military presence and maneuvers on Puerto Rican soil, amid tensions between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments.

The demonstration came a day after Governor Jenniffer González stressed that she is “happy” that the armed forces are “defending Puerto Rico and the United States” against drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

In response, activists insisted on sending a message to the U.S. Army “not to invade Hispanic countries,” said Mothers Against the War spokeswoman Sonia Santiago Hernandez, via telephone from the protest.

“We raise our firm voice to reject the presence of U.S. military bases in Puerto Rico and the military exercises that take place there. To build these bases, they displaced entire communities, such as the San Antonio neighborhood in Aguadilla, to build the Ramey base. They have never paid us, and even if they did, we don’t want them. Our bodies, our land and our communities are not training camps for war," said Santiago Hernández.

Since the beginning of September, the United States deployed vessels and military troops in the Caribbean area, with the alleged purpose of preventing drug trafficking from Venezuela, for which purpose facilities in Puerto Rico were used, including the simulation of an amphibious landing in Arroyo. In reaction, President Nicolás Maduro summoned Venezuelans enrolled in the militias to begin their training and join citizen security tasks.

As part of U.S. activities in the area, a boat allegedly carrying eleven people carrying drugs was destroyed, for which no evidence has been offered.

“What we want is to alert many young people. We don’t want wars. To the military, let them make use of conscientious objection. If for ethical, moral or religious reasons, they understand that they do not want to participate in this, then, let them leave. We can guide them”, emphasized the spokeswoman.

Last Sunday, anti-war and pro-independence groups protested in front of Muñiz Air National Guard Base, in Isla Verde, against U.S. military exercises and the reuse of facilities that were closed by the Pentagon.

Following that demonstration, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the island Monday, where, in a message to 300 soldiers, he said, "What you are doing right now is not training. This is a real exercise on behalf of the vital national interests of the United States of America: ending the poisoning of the American people."

In the same vein, the governor, who met again Wednesday with Hegseth at the White House, commented that “it was about time we got our hands on this problem, and what is happening is going to prevent the arrival of this drug to Puerto Rico”.