Venezuela Bolsters Defenses Amid Rising Tensions with U.S.
CARACAS – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has unveiled a sweeping national defense plan involving the deployment of at least 200,000 military personnel across the country, notably in coastal and border regions. The move comes as tensions remain high with the United States, and follows the recent approval of the “Law of the Command for the Comprehensive Defense of the Nation.”
The plan aims to unify Venezuela’s armed forces with public powers and communal councils to safeguard the nation against perceived threats. It establishes 284 battle fronts and integrates the newly formed command structure with existing Management Bodies for Comprehensive Defense (ODDI), activated earlier this year. This escalation in military preparedness reflects Maduro’s government’s concerns over potential external interference, particularly from the U.S., which has increased military actions against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific.
According to Maduro, the command’s purpose is to “plan, coordinate and execute national defense actions against internal or external threats.” A key component of the strategy involves the national militia, to which the regime claims 8 million Venezuelans have enlisted, operating under a plan described as “street by street, community by community, weapons and weapon system by weapon system.” Maduro asserts this citizen-led initiative,designed “by the people,” will guarantee the defense of Venezuela.