Venezuela Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced the mobilization of 200 thousand troops in the country due to increased US military activity in the Caribbean.
In a statement published on social networks, Lopez noted that the mobilization of 200 thousand troops is aimed at preparing for the threats facing the country and is part of new exercises.
“Peace in the Caribbean is under threat due to lies, created by the US State Department. The purpose of these lies is to divert attention from the serious internal problems of the United States. They will continue their lies, inconsistency and vicious attacks on Venezuela. There will be more work on our part, more unity and more love for the homeland,” the head of the department said, criticizing US military activity in the Caribbean.
According to national media, the mobilization throughout the country will last two days, after which a new assessment of the situation will be carried out.
In the meantime, Chairman of the National Assembly of Venezuela (AN) Jorge Rodriguez, during a live broadcast on the state television channel VTV, without naming names, protested against the United States. He stressed that the Comprehensive National Defense Command Act will come into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.
“We endorse the new law; it establishes the deployment of troops, the execution of orders, the organization of military mobility and, most importantly, a new concept of defense based on cooperation between the people and the Armed Forces,” Rodriguez said.
Activity in the Caribbean
US President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order mandating more active and effective use of the armed forces to combat Latin American drug cartels on the ground.
In this context, at the end of August, the United States sent a naval group consisting of a submarine and warships to Venezuelan waters. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that US troops are ready for operations in Venezuela, including “regime change”.
In response, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militias and the readiness to repel any attack.
Continuing US actions to intercept Venezuelan ships under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking have drawn criticism from both the Venezuelan authorities and the international communities.
It is reported that the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group, sent by the United States under the pretext of “fighting drug trafficking,” have arrived in the Latin American region.