Venezuelan Military Bolsters Ranks with 5,600 New Recruits in Response to US Military Tensions
Venezuela's armed forces have bolstered their ranks with the addition of 5,600 new troops, a move coinciding with heightened military pressure from Washington on the Latin American nation.
The swearing-in ceremony at Fuerte Tiuna, the largest military base in the capital, took place on Saturday following a call from President Nicolas Maduro for increased enrollment.
Washington has accused Maduro of leading the drug trafficking organization known as the Cartel de los Soles. Last month, the U.S. designated this group as a terrorist organization, although no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
Maduro claims that the US government under Trump is attempting to overthrow him and take control of the country’s oil resources.
During the ceremony, Colonel Gabriel Alejandro Rendon Vilchez, one of the officiating authorities, announced, “We will not permit any intrusion by an imperialist power under any circumstances.”
According to official statistics, Venezuela’s military force consists of 200,000 soldiers, alongside an additional 200,000 police officers.
On Saturday, Maduro engaged in a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss global geopolitical dynamics and the United States’ military presence in the Caribbean region.
The Turkish leader has voiced significant apprehension regarding the recent threats confronting Venezuela. This includes the military deployments and various measures aimed at undermining peace and security in the Caribbean region, according to a statement by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.
Maduro labeled the activities in the Caribbean as an “illegal, disproportionate, unnecessary, and even extravagant” act of aggression, while reaffirming Venezuela’s commitment to peace.
In a statement released on X, Erdogan emphasized the significance of maintaining open dialogue channels between the United States and Venezuela. He expressed hope for a swift de-escalation of tensions.
Since August, the United States Southern Command has deployed a formidable array of military assets, including warships, submarines, aircraft carriers, F-35 squadrons, along with 15,000 personnel, to the Caribbean and near Venezuela’s coastline. This operation is reportedly conducted under the pretense of countering drug trafficking activities.
The United States Southern Command has strategically advanced the deployment of Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12), featuring the USS Gerald R. Ford, the globe’s largest aircraft carrier, to the area.
U.S. forces in the area have executed lethal operations against over 20 suspected narco-trafficking vessels, resulting in at least 87 fatalities.
Officials in Caracas have denounced the attacks, describing them as a calculated act of US animosity aimed at intimidating the region and undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
