Venezuela Announces Mass Mobilization as US Troops Move to Region

Venezuela has announced the start of a massive mobilization of personnel, weapons, and equipment in response to the increased presence of American warships and troops in the Caribbean Sea, reports CNN.

According to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, the ground, air, naval, and reserve forces will conduct exercises until November 12. He described this mobilization as a response to the "imperialist threat" emanating from the United States.

In addition to regular military units, the Bolivarian Militia, a reserve force composed of civilians, will participate in the exercises. It was created by the late President Hugo Chávez and named after Simón Bolívar, the liberator who achieved the independence of several Latin American countries from Spain.

On the subject: Trump may deploy troops and begin a ground operation in Venezuela: a US aircraft carrier has already been dispatched to its shores.

Padrino Lopez, calling the order a personal one from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, said the goal of the exercises was to "optimize command, control, and communications" and ensure the country's defense.

This move comes amid growing tensions between the two countries over the continued buildup of the American military presence. On November 11, the U.S. Navy announced that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford—the largest U.S. warship—had arrived in the U.S. Southern Command area of ​​responsibility, which covers much of Latin America.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the aircraft carrier to depart Europe for the Caribbean late last month.

The strike group accompanying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford includes nine air wings, two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—USS ​​Bainbridge and USS Mahan—the integrated air and missile defense command ship USS Winston S. Churchill, and more than 4,000 sailors. (An air wing is a large organizational unit of the Navy that combines several aviation squadrons based on an aircraft carrier or shore base. One air wing typically includes fighter, attack, reconnaissance, and helicopter squadrons, as well as technical and support personnel. – Note.)

The US explains the buildup of forces in the region as part of the fight against drug trafficking and smuggling into the United States. In recent weeks, the US military has struck several ships suspected of transporting drugs.

However, Caracas believes the US is genuinely seeking regime change. Some Trump administration officials have privately acknowledged that their strategy is indeed aimed at removing Maduro.

Last month, Trump announced that he had authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela and had previously raised the possibility of strikes on the country's territory. Administration officials subsequently stated that the US is not currently planning such action.

In a statement on November 11, Padrino Lopez described the deployment of Venezuelan troops as part of Maduro's broader "Independence Plan 200" program, a civic-military strategy that calls for the mobilization of regular armed forces alongside militias and police to defend the country.

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela number approximately 123,000 troops. Maduro claims his volunteer militias include over 8 million reservists, although experts question both this figure and the level of training of these personnel.

With the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the number of American forces in the region is estimated at approximately 15,000.

A significant portion of the U.S. Navy was in the region prior to the arrival of the carrier strike group, including the amphibious USS Iwo Jima and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, totaling more than 4,500 Marines and sailors, three guided-missile destroyers, a submarine, a special operations ship, a guided-missile cruiser, and P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft. (An amphibious ready group is a tactical unit of the United States Navy designed to land amphibious forces on shore. It typically consists of several naval vessels: a landing ship dock, a transport craft, and an amphibious assault ship with a helicopter deck. Such a group carries Marines, equipment, and helicopters to conduct amphibious operations, including seizing coastal positions and supporting ground forces. – Note.)

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In addition, the US has deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico. The island has become a focal point for US military activity as part of its increased focus on the Caribbean region. Among other things, the island is home to at least three MQ-9 Reaper attack drones, as confirmed by Reuters images taken in Aguadilla. Along with this equipment, approximately 5,000 US troops are stationed on the island.

American bombers have already carried out several training sorties near the Venezuelan coast, including a demonstration "bomb strike" in late October.

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