US Military Deployment in Latin America Prompts Venezuelan Militia Mobilization
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded to increased US military presence and a doubled reward for his arrest by deploying 4.5 million militiamen across the country, vowing to defend Venezuelan soil. This move came after reports of US naval movements in the region, though a US Department of Defense official later clarified that no ships were in the area. Maduro’s actions are a response to accusations of drug trafficking by the United States, which has not had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019 and has designated Maduro as a threat to US national security. The Venezuelan government rejects these accusations, labeling them as threats and defamation.
John Q. Hosedrinker