venezuela mobilizes for Civilian Defense Training Amidst Rising Tensions with U.S.
CARACAS, Venezuela – September 19, 2025 – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced today that the military will begin training civilians in weapons handling in popular neighborhoods across the country, escalating tensions with the United States following a significant U.S. naval deployment to the Caribbean. The move comes after Maduro recently convened volunteers from the civilian militia – a military body comprised of citizens - for training in military barracks.
“Next Saturday, September 20, the barracks, the Bolivarian Armed Forces, goes to the town, goes to the communities to place them, to review, to teach all those who enlisted, neighbors and neighbors, in what is the handling of the weapons system,” Maduro stated in a televised address. “It will be the first time that the barracks with their weapons and soldiers go to the town, to the neighborhood, to the community.”
The announcement follows three days of military exercises initiated by the Venezuelan Armed Forces on Wednesday on the Caribbean island of Orchila, approximately 65 kilometers from Venezuelan firm Lier. This is the most significant military deployment ordered by Maduro sence the U.S. sent a naval fleet to the Eastern Caribbean last month, citing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The U.S. has reportedly interdicted three vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking since September, resulting in 14 fatalities, according to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. government accuses Maduro of links to drug trafficking and has offered a $50 million reward for his capture.
Maduro, whose legitimacy as president is not recognized by the United States, many democracies in the Americas, and the European Union, alleges the U.S. actions are part of a broader plan. “What is behind is an imperial plan for a regime change and impose a puppet government of the United States and come to steal oil that is the largest reserve in the world,and gas,which is the fourth in the world. But it has not happened or will happen,” he said Thursday.
The U.S. has reinforced its presence in the region, deploying F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to support a flotilla of seven ships and a nuclear-powered submarine.
Despite the heightened military activity, Maduro insisted, “We don’t get with anyone but we prepare in case you need it,” referring to the Venezuelan military exercises.
(MG/AFP, El Nacional)
