Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a nationwide televised address has called on the country to unite to prepare for any US aggression and asked parliament to grant him the right to rule by decree for six months, so then the country can defend itself in case of an American aggression. Maduro said the US president had taken "the most aggressive" step against his country. 

At a hearing in the US Senate on Wednesday, the White House asked lawmakers to grant extensive powers to fight the Islamic State (IS) anywhere in the world, which, according to the Rodriguez, "leaves the door open" to a military campaign in Venezuela. 

Delcy Rodriguez, foreign minister of Venezuela said that the US is laying a legal groundwork to wage a war against the country. “The administration of US President Barack Obama is seeking congressional approval to attack any country that "doesn't serve its interests", Rodriguez said.

The minister called on Venezuelans to prepare for a US embargo against Venezuela's trade, finance, and economy, similar to the one Washington imposed on Cuba for more than 50 years.

"The US is preparing to declare war on all countries because requesting authorization to use military force without a geographic restriction means they can invade any country," the minister further added.