Venezuela Announces Mobilization of Militia Amid Deployment of US Destroyers to Region

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced the mobilization of the country’s militia amid the deployment of US missile destroyers to the region.

This was reported by El Nacional.

The mobilization is aimed at preparing the country to repel possible strikes.

Maduro said that mobilization activities for the Bolivarian Militia of Venezuela would take place on August 23–24th.

“I have called for next Saturday and Sunday in military headquarters and barracks, military units, central squares, Bolivar squares and popular bases… to begin the process of national recruitment of all militia forces, the entire Bolivarian Militia of Venezuela,” he said.

The militia is one of the elements of Venezuela’s national security system.

Earlier, the United States sent three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to the country’s coast to fight drug cartels.

In early August, the United States also raised the reward for the arrest of Nicolás Maduro to $50 million.

After the news that Donald Trump had sent American warships to the coast of Venezuela, Maduro on Monday had ordered the mobilization of 4.5 million militia members across the country.

“This week I am activating a special plan involving more than 4.5 million militia members to ensure coverage of the entire national territory — a militia that is trained, activated and armed,” he said in an address broadcast on state television.

At the same time, Trump has signaled determination to fight drug cartels. This has led to clashes with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, as he called for greater security cooperation and tougher measures against Mexican cartels.

Militarnyi previously reported that the US was considering drone strikes on cartels in Mexico as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking across the southern border.