Is US planning an attack on Venezuela? Thousands of Venezuelans take up arms at President Nicolas Maduro’s call, emergency drills….
Is US planning an attack on Venezuela. Several Venezuelans have taken up arms at President Nicolas Maduro's call.
Military action is escalating in Venezuela as fears of a possible US attack grow. Concurrently, Venezuelan officials are getting their citizens ready. Venezuela is worried about the presence of the US military along its coast. As a precautionary measure against a possible US action, special drills started in Venezuela on Saturday. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro might also declare emergency powers. President Maduro has indicated that the US preparations indicate a possible imminent attack on Venezuela.
What prompted Maduro to call for civilians to take up arms?
The tension began last month when US President Doland Trump announced a crackdown on drug trafficking and sent warships and submarines to the southern Caribbean. After that, the US military attacked Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean, sinking them. The US labeled these vessels as belonging to Venezuelan drug traffickers.
When did the Venezuelan government start these military preparations?
According to The Eurasian Times, President Doland Trump has sent eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean to combat drug trafficking. US forces have sunk at least three suspected drug boats in the Caribbean region over the last few weeks, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, which UN experts called “extrajudicial executions.”
Why are thousands of Venezuelans joining armed militias now?
Following the attacks on boats at sea, there are reports that the U.S. military is weighing strikes inside Venezuela, which could take place in the coming weeks, though Trump has not yet approved. Maduro suspects that Washington is indeed planning to strike to overthrow his government. In response, he has taken precautionary measures.
At Maduro’s invitation, thousands of Venezuelan citizens have joined armed militias. Thousands have engaged in weapons training taking place at military barracks and city centers. These drills are coming to help prepare for a possible US attack. If Venezuela’s armed forces are weakened, these militias are expected to fight against the Americans.
Maduro referred to “threats” from the US as he stated he has called for a drill starting at 9:00 am on Saturday to “the people’s readiness for natural catastrophes or any armed conflict,” reported Eurasian Times.
Citing the threat posed by the United States, Venezuelan President Maduro called for drills to commence on Saturday. The drills will train participants to be ready for any situation that involves armed conflict. Maduro indicated schools and hospitals must also take part “to prepare for any circumstance”. Earlier on Tuesday, he appeared with a red folder on state television, on which it read: “Decree declaring a state of external commotion across the national territory.”
The constitution of Venezuela permits the issuance of such an order in the event of an external war threatening national security. It gives the government emergency powers, including to act without parliament, suspend constitutional guarantees, and deploy military forces.
Venezuela’s constitution permits this type of a decree if there is an “external conflict that seriously endangers the security of the nation, its citizens, or its institutions.” This allows the government emergency powers to go around parliament, suspend constitutional guarantees, and deploy the military and more. Maduro did not announce anything yet but, said “we are preparing significant decrees… for any scenario that may arise.”
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The tension began last month when US President Doland Trump announced a crackdown on drug trafficking.
- President Doland Trump has sent eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean.
- The US military attacked Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean, sinking them.
- Earlier on Tuesday, he appeared with a red folder on state television, on which it read: “Decree declaring a state of external commotion across the national territory.”
Previously, Venezuela flew its Russian-origin Su-30 Mk2 fighter jets armed with ship-targeting Kh-31 missiles in reaction to the naval actions of the United States. The Trump administration has blamed Venezuela’s drug cartels for sending drugs to the United States, and has accused Nicolás Maduro of being a drug trafficker. Trump has continued to emphasize acting against Venezuelan drug traffickers, and all of this has elevated tensions.
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