Nicolás Maduro Mobilizes 4.5 Million Militia Members, Challenges U.S.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday (18) the mobilization of 4.5 million militia members across the country, declaring that “no empire will set foot on the sacred soil of Venezuela” while downplaying what he called “threats to peace.”
The move comes after the United States doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest and increased the number of troops deployed in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Last week, the U.S. government confirmed to CNN that it had ordered the deployment of naval ships to the region, citing the need to counter the threat posed by drug trafficking groups.
Reuters reported that three U.S. Navy warships and about 4,000 service members were expected to reach Venezuelan waters within 36 hours. However, on Tuesday (19), a Pentagon official stated there were no American vessels currently in the area and that no orders had been issued for them to advance.
Venezuela has roughly 2,500 miles of coastline.
When asked about a possible troop deployment to Venezuela amid reports of increased military presence, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded:
“President Trump has been very clear and consistent. He is willing to use every tool at his disposal to stop the flow of drugs into our country and bring those responsible to justice.”
Leavitt also reiterated Washington’s position that Maduro “is not a legitimate president.” The U.S. and Venezuela have had no formal diplomatic relations since 2019.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government rejected U.S. drug trafficking accusations, accusing Washington of resorting to “threats and defamation.”
Venezuelan Militia
The Venezuelan National Militia, created in 2005 by the late President Hugo Chávez and formally institutionalized in 2010, is part of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). Its mission is to “incorporate the organized people” to ensure the “integral defense of the nation.”
Maduro also announced a plan to activate rural and workers’ militias “in every factory and workplace across the country.”
“Missiles and rifles for the working class, to defend our homeland,” he stressed.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces currently consist of “approximately 95,000 to 150,000 active-duty troops” along with “a growing National Militia composed of hundreds of thousands of individuals capable of serving as reservists.”
Military Power
The website Global Fire Power, which specializes in military analysis and uses official statistics or estimates when unavailable, ranks Venezuela 50th in military strength for 2025, out of 145 countries evaluated.
The United States ranks first, followed by Russia in second place and China in third.
Several weeks ago, the Trump administration doubled its reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s capture, describing him as “one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers,” head of the so-called Cartel of the Suns, and a threat to U.S. national security.
The Venezuelan government and several institutions rejected the allegations, while prominent Chavista leaders also dismissed them.
“We defend our seas, our skies, and our lands. We liberated them. We guard and patrol them. No empire will set foot on the sacred soil of Venezuela, nor should it set foot on the sacred soil of South America,” Maduro declared.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello dismissed the Cartel of the Suns as a “U.S. invention,” while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López categorically denied the accusations.
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