05.09.2025 15:00
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, citing the increased military presence of the United States in the Caribbean, has launched a new mobilization to expand the National Bolivarian Militia Force in order to strengthen the national defense system. Maduro announced that for the first time nationwide, 15,751 popular defense bases and over 8 million militia units will be mobilized.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced a new mobilization for the expansion of the National Bolivarian Militia Force to strengthen the national defense system.
According to state television VTV, Maduro announced new decisions to further strengthen the militia force, citing the increased military presence of the U.S. in the Caribbean as a justification. He stated that for the first time nationwide, 15,751 popular defense bases and 5,336 communal militia units would be mobilized.
CALLING 8 MILLION PEOPLE TO ARMS
President Maduro noted that citizens continue to register for the militia force through a digital platform, stating that in addition to the approximately 4.5 million "strong base" who have received training over the years, it is expected that the number will exceed 8 million with volunteers.
"WE ARE FACING NAZI TENDENCIES"
Emphasizing that Venezuela has the capacity to defend itself against external threats and to maintain peace under all circumstances, Maduro stated that this capacity would be further strengthened. He expressed that the courage of Venezuelans inspires admiration among the peoples of the world, saying, "We are facing extremist movements from the north that threaten the peace of South America and the Caribbean and continue to attack the rights of the peoples, with Nazi tendencies."
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VENEZUELA ESCALATE
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously issued an executive order directing the military to be used more extensively and effectively in the fight against Latin American drug cartels. While it has been claimed that Maduro has led the "Cartel de los Soles," responsible for drug trafficking to the U.S. for over a decade, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the "Cartel de los Soles" as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on July 25.
The U.S. administration announced on August 8 that it had raised the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction from $25 million to $50 million. In a statement regarding the potential U.S. intervention on August 18, Maduro said, "We defend our seas, our skies, and our lands; we liberate ourselves, we observe and patrol. No empire can touch the sacred lands of Venezuela, and it must not touch the sacred lands of South America." It was reported that a naval group consisting of a submarine and seven warships was sent to the Caribbean region towards Venezuela on August 28 under Trump's orders.