Venezuela Mobilises Military as US Forces Build in Caribbean

Venezuela has launched a large-scale military mobilisation in response to a growing US military presence in the Caribbean. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the mobilisation of land, air, naval, and reserve forces, calling it a response to what he described as an “imperialist threat”.

The drills, ordered by President Nicolás Maduro, include the Bolivarian Militia, which is a civilian reserve force created by former President Hugo Chávez. 

Tensions intensified after the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest US aircraft carrier, along with a strike group of warships, fighter jets, and thousands of personnel. The US says the deployment targets drug trafficking, but Venezuelan officials believe it’s part of a broader push for regime change.

President Trump recently confirmed CIA operations in Venezuela and has previously floated the idea of military strikes, though US officials say no such action is currently planned.

Venezuela’s response is part of its “Independence Plan 200”, a strategy combining military, militia, and police forces. While Maduro claims to have over 8 million reservists, analysts question both the numbers and their readiness.

According to CNN, the total US military presence in the region now exceeds 15,000 personnel.