Maduro orders expansion of Venezuela’s militia amid rising US military pressure

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared a new mobilization to expand the National Bolivarian Militia as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s defense system.

According to state broadcaster VTV, Maduro justified the move by pointing to the US's increased military presence in the Caribbean and announcing new measures to strengthen the militia.

For the first time, 15,751 popular defense bases and 5,336 communal militia units will be mobilized nationwide.

Maduro said citizens continue to enlist through a digital platform, adding that, beyond the roughly 4.5 million people already trained over the years, the total is expected to surpass 8 million with the addition of new volunteers.

He stressed that Venezuela has the capacity to preserve peace under all circumstances and to defend itself against external threats—a capacity he pledged to strengthen further.

“The courage of the Venezuelan people inspires admiration around the world,” Maduro said.

“We are facing extremist currents and Nazi tendencies from the north, which threaten the peace of South America and the Caribbean and continue to attack the rights of our peoples.”

- Growing tensions with US

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington, DC.

US President Donald Trump had earlier signed an executive order directing a greater and more active use of the military to combat Latin American drug cartels.

For over a decade, Maduro has been accused by US authorities of leading the “Cartel de los Soles,” which Washington claims is responsible for drug trafficking operations.

On July 25, the US Treasury Department designated the cartel as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.

On August 8, the US government doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction, raising it from $25 million to $50 million.

Responding to the possibility of US intervention on August 18, Maduro declared:

“We will defend our seas, our skies, and our land. We will liberate them, patrol them, and guard them. No empire can touch Venezuela’s sacred soil, nor should it violate the sacred lands of South America.”

On August 28, acting on Trump’s orders, a US naval group consisting of a submarine and seven warships was reported to be en route to the Caribbean near Venezuelan waters.