Venezuela's Maduro says his country is peaceful but will not bow to threats

CARACAS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Venezuela is facing the biggest threat seen in South America in a century but will not bow to it, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday in a rare press conference.

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have risen in recent weeks amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.