Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | by DAILY MENTOR NEWS
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced the deployment of more than 4.5 million armed militia members across the country in response to escalating military threats from the United States.
Speaking on state television on Monday, Maduro described the extensive militia mobilization as a “peace plan,” urging the militia members to be “ready, active, and armed” to defend the nation.
The announcement comes shortly after the US government doubled its reward for Maduro’s arrest from $25 million to $50 million. The US has accused Maduro of collaborating with Latin American drug cartels responsible for funneling fentanyl and other illicit substances into the United States.
In addition, US President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 4,000 Marines and sailors across Latin America and the Caribbean, including waters near Venezuela, to target drug trafficking organizations. Three Aegis-equipped guided-missile destroyers the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson are expected to operate in Venezuelan coastal areas as part of enhanced counter-narcotics efforts.
Maduro condemned Washington’s actions as aggressive and imperialistic, asserting that Venezuela continues to advance in peace and sovereignty despite external pressures. His government’s Bolivarian Militia, originally formed by former President Hugo Chávez, is being positioned as a key force to counter these perceived threats on all fronts.
These developments add another chapter to a long-standing conflict between the Venezuelan government and the United States, reflecting deep geopolitical tensions and competing narratives over drug trafficking, sovereignty, and regional security.