Maduro Calls on 8 Million to Form 15,000 Paramilitary Units in Venezuela
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency via AOL, Venezuelan President nicolás Maduro declared that in response to rising tensions with the United States following increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean Sea, over eight million citizens have been called up as part of the “Bolivarian national Militias.”
During a meeting with government and armed forces officials broadcast on state television, Maduro stated that “a powerful base consisting of 4.5 million trained militiamen has also been summoned,” and that more than eight million individuals registered with the Bolivarian National Militias will join them.
Maduro described this mobilization as a means to strengthen logistical and organizational capabilities to ensure Venezuela’s security and defense against internal and external threats.He emphasized that this call-up represents just the first phase in an ongoing effort to prepare popular forces.
in his address,maduro announced that only Venezuelans-families registered at all bases across the country-would be summoned by today,Friday,September 5. According to him, for the first time in Venezuela’s history, “universal paramilitary units” have been established across 5,336 areas, each supported by integrated local defense centers creating a total of 15,751 popular mobilization bases nationwide.
Tensions between Venezuela and Washington escalated after U.S. forces deployed near Caribbean coasts under anti-drug cartel operations. Earlier incidents included two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flying over a U.S. Navy destroyer.
Reuters reported quoting two U.S. officials that this event-which Pentagon claims occurred in international waters-further intensified strained relations just two days after U.S. forces attacked a Venezuelan boat killing all 11 occupants aboard; then-U.S. President Donald Trump announced this during a press briefing insisting that the vessel was carrying narcotics.