Venezuela calls for militia after US military moves in Latin America

Venezuela calls for militia after US military moves in Latin America

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Monday that 4.5 million militiamen would be mobilized across the country and assured that "no empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela." This came after the United States doubled the reward for information leading to his capture and increased the number of troops located in the Caribbean and Latin America.

US forces in the Caribbean region

Last week, the US government confirmed to CNN that it had ordered marine movements in the region to curb the threat from drug cartels. On Monday, Reuters reported that three US Navy destroyers and about 4,000 troops would reach Venezuela's territorial waters within the next 36 hours.

Confusion about military presence

However, on Tuesday, a US Defense Department official said there were no US ships currently in the area and the ships had not received orders to go there. Venezuela's coastline stretches nearly 2,500 miles.

Maduro activates military plans

"This week I will activate a special plan to provide security with more than 4.5 million militia members across the country. The militias are prepared, mobilized and armed," Maduro said during a televised call with the country's governors and mayors.

US threats rejected

The president described the US's "extravagant, bizarre and absurd" threats as "rotten repetitions" without explaining exactly what he was referring to. "We defend our seas, our skies and our lands. We have liberated them. We guard and patrol them. No empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela, nor should it touch the sacred soil of South America," he emphasized in his speech.

White House statement

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Tuesday about a possible troop deployment to Venezuela. "President Trump is very clear and consistent. He is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flowing into our country and to hold those responsible accountable," she said.

Venezuela's resistance to drug allegations

The Venezuelan government rejected Washington's drug allegations and said in a statement that the US was resorting to "threats and slander." The Venezuelan militia, founded in 2005 by the late President Hugo Chávez and officially launched in 2010, is part of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and aims to integrate the "organized people" to ensure the "comprehensive defense of the nation."

Activation of workers' and farmers' militias

Maduro announced that he would push ahead with a program to activate rural and worker militias “in all factories and workplaces in the country.” “Missiles and rifles for the working class to defend our homeland,” he said. The Venezuelan Ministry of Defense states on its website that the FANB consists of "approximately 95,000 to 150,000 active combatants" as well as "a growing national militia consisting of hundreds of thousands of people who can serve as reservists."

Venezuela's military strength in a global context

The Global Fire Power portal, which specializes in military analysis, ranks Venezuela in Ranking 2025 ranked 50th out of 145 countries. The United States ranks first, Russia second and China third.

US policy and reactions to Maduro

A few weeks ago, the Trump administration doubled the reward to $50 million for information leading to the arrest of Maduro. This is described as “one of the largest drug traffickers in the world” and is at the head of the “Cartel de los Soles” and a threat to US national security. The Venezuelan government and other institutions in the country rejected the announcement, while several Chavisist figures dismissed the allegations as unfounded. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the Cartel de los Soles an “invention” by the US, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López “categorically” rejected Washington’s “ridiculous” allegations.