Rio de Janeiro, August 20 (RHC)-- The United States Navy is “ready” to act in favor of Washington’s interests in Venezuela, says a top American commander.  U.S. Southern Command chief Admiral Craig Faller made the claims Monday in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as the United States kicked off its annual UNITAS maritime exercise.

"I won't speak to details of what we're planning and what we're doing, but we remain ready to implement policy decisions and we remain on the balls of our feet," Faller told reporters.  He further bragged about the U.S. military might, claiming that the navy is ready to do “what needs to be done.”

"The United States Navy is the most powerful navy in the world. If a policy decision is made to deploy the navy, I'm convinced that we'll be able to do what needs to be done."  He further vowed that the U.S. would topple the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.

"The US government focus continues to be to place focused and targeted pressure on an illegitimate regime to ensure there's a transition to a legitimate, democratic government," Faller said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously asserted that his administration is considering a "blockade or quarantine" against the Latin American nation.  Faller further boasted that the UNITAS military drills would “send a message” to the rest of the world.