Venezuela has begun massive wargames to show Donald Trump that it is capable of defending itself against US aggression. The drills will involve 200,000 troops and thousands of civilian volunteers, the military said.
The number of participants in the exercise starting Saturday will exceed 900,000 people, Remigio Ceballos, head of the Venezuelan Strategic Operational Command, told the media.
There’ll be around 200,000 servicemen taking part, with the rest of those drilling being members of the Venezuelan civilian militia, Ceballos said.
The National Bolivarian Militia was created by the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, in 2009. The force, which allows every citizen to enlist, answers directly to the country’s president.
According to Ceballos, the number of those willing to become a militia member has sharply increased since the current drills were ordered in mid-August by President Nicolas Maduro.
The announcement of the massive exercise came in response to Donald Trump saying that Washington has prepared a range of measures against Venezuela, “including a possible military option if necessary.”
“The fundamental objective for this exercise is to prepare the people for defense,” Ceballos said.
The wargames will take place across the country, including the border areas, the commander added.
The National Bolivarian Militia held a similar 500,000-strong drill in January after the American authorities prolonged the 2015 decree that labeled Venezuela a threat to the US.
On Friday, the White House announced a new batch of sanctions against Venezuela, which for the first time targeted the country as a whole, but not Maduro and his associates.
The restrictions focused on the new bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and dealing with the state-run Venezuelan oil company, PDVSA.
The tough measures threaten the Latin American state with default as Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza blasted the move as “the worst aggression towards Venezuela in the last 200 years.”
The US has labeled President Maduro a dictator over his handling of the political crisis in the country, which has seen over a hundred people killed in clashes this year.
Maduro has blamed Washington for attempting to destabilize the country and working to remove him from power.
On Thursday, he addressed the country’s top military brass, reminding the armed forces of their oath of allegiance.
“We must be clear, especially for the youth in the military, that we must close ranks within the homeland – that this is no time for any fissures and that those with doubts should leave the armed forces immediately,” he said.
“You are either with Trump and the imperialists, or you are with the Bolivarian national armed forces and the homeland. Never before has Venezuela been threatened in such a way,” the President added.
Trump not ruling out the “military option” in Venezuela may “probably help and strengthen Maduro more than anything else,” analyst and author Gregory Wilpert told RT.
“Such comments reinforce the Maduro government’s argument that Venezuela is under threat from the US,” he said.
- https://www.rt.com/news/401013-venezuela-military-drills-trump/
Good for him 🙂 The world is sick & tired of JEWSA Policy of Bullying, like they do to Palestinians, NEWSBREAK, NOT GOING TO WORK !
Well I hope that the other countries within SA as well as those abroad that do not care much for US sanctions will come to the aid of Venezuela and trade as normal.
What is confusing however is that a few weeks ago, it was reported that many people were starving due to a lack of food. If this is the case, then how is it possible to then feed an army that is 900 000 men strong?
Reading an article some weeks back on the food crisis in Venezuela and in particular chicken farming – what I was surprised to read was the fact that most chicken feed was imported – why I ask? This land is in the heart of the tropics in soil rich areas, there should be ample good quality food that can be grown to both feed the people as well as livestock. The agriculture sector should be addressing these problems with the RIGHT organic agro-farming practices that outstrip modern farming methods in both quantity and quality of nutritious food. Perhaps governments that continue to do business with Venezuela should focus on getting this country back on its feet through its agri sector.
Why aren’t the South American countries united and working for SA first policies
They should have a common trading block
They don’t need the rest of the world
They don’t need USA, Russia or China telling them what to do
It can’t be that difficult
Most conflicts involving the West, over the previous 120 yrs., have been between Communism, Dictators, Socialism.
It’s getting old.☠️
I hope Maduro is aware that MODERN WARFARE is not being fought with numbers of men but with NUMBERS of the BEST EQUIPMENT,Tanks, Drones, Missiles, Aircraft and Intelligence
Having a NUKE is the BEST DEFENSE from attack by U.S. and Israeli PSYCHOPATHS
Maduro would be wiser to invest in a NUCLEAR bomb of at least 50 megatons. One is all he needs.That will be his BEST DETERRENT
U.S. and Israel care not nor worry not, about YOUR numbers of men