CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela accused the United States yesterday of “an act of provocation” after a US warship steamed close to the South American country's territorial waters the day before.

It cannot be termed otherwise....it is a clear defiant act,” Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said during a military ceremony in Venezuela's northern Carabobo state.

On Tuesday, the US Southern Command said in a statement that a guided-missile destroyer had entered waters that Venezuela considered its own.

“The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) conducted a freedom of navigation operation, contesting an excessive maritime claim by Venezuela,” the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a statement.

According to the US Navy, the operation took place in international waters outside a 12 nautical-mile jurisdiction that President Nicolas Maduro claims as belonging to Venezuela.