As tensions escalate with the United States, Venezuelan autocrat Nicols Maduro is rallying troops and militias along the Caribbean coast, proclaiming his nation "prepared for combat.
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The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that this move marks the most significant military buildup in the region since the 1980s.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Maduro's administration has activated both the Venezuelan armed forces and a civilian militia, which he asserts numbers in the millions. Analysts interpret this as a blend of propaganda and desperation. State-controlled television, radio, and social media platforms are awash with images of Venezuelan citizens of all ages and physical conditions participating in military drills and pledging allegiance to the socialist government.
"The people are ready for combat, ready for battle," Maduro declared to his enthusiastic supporters earlier this week, asserting that "Venezuela will bow to no one."
The Journal also reported that the U.S. Navy has relocated eight warships, an attack submarine, and advanced aircraft, including F-35B fighters and P-8 Poseidon spy planes, to the Caribbean. MQ-9 Reaper drones and B-52 bombers have also been spotted near Venezuela's northern coast. The Pentagon has dispatched elite special operations units, including the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the "Night Stalkers," to conduct exercises within 90 miles of Venezuelan territory.
American officials informed The Wall Street Journal that the buildup is intended to combat narcotics trafficking, not to prepare for a full-scale invasion. However, the U.S. has executed at least five airstrikes on drug-running boats in the region, resulting in 27 fatalities. The Trump administration has justified these strikes as necessary measures to halt terrorists involved in the narcotics trade.
In response, Maduro has intensified his rhetoric and surrounded himself with high-ranking military officials. The Journal reported that he has ordered recruitment from indigenous communities to expand the militias and has made appearances at rallies accompanied by uniformed generals. "If you want peace," he told the crowd, "get ready to earn peace."
Maduro's second-in-command, Diosdado Cabello, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lpez have been featured in state footage preparing defenses and visiting militia camps far from Caracas. "We are a country of peace," Cabello proclaimed, "but we are fierce beasts when we have to defend it."
Despite the bravado, The Wall Street Journal reports that Venezuela's military is "in shambles." Experts and former officers claim that morale is low, training is inadequate, and logistics are dysfunctional. Soldiers are malnourished, poorly equipped, and led predominantly by political loyalists rather than professionals. "They have been systematically worn down," one exiled former colonel told the newspaper.
Simultaneously, the country's economy is once again on the brink of collapse. The International Monetary Fund predicts a 3% contraction in 2026 and inflation skyrocketing to 682%. While Maduro insists that Venezuela can withstand any U.S. pressure, many citizens expressed to The Wall Street Journal their hope that Washington's presence might expedite the end of his rule. "I think it's important for a change in government," said Caracas resident Milagros Campos, "so that the economy can get better."
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States will play out. The Venezuelan people, caught in the crossfire, continue to hope for a change that will bring about a better future.
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