Get ready for some major moves out of Caracas! Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro just announced nationwide conscription on August 23–24, calling up over 4.5 million citizens to join the iconic Bolivarian Militia ⚔️. According to Maduro, recruits will sign up at military unit HQs, Bolivar Square, or one of 15,751 defense bases across the country.
Why the sudden mobilization? The U.S. has sent three destroyers with 4,000 naval personnel into the Caribbean, ostensibly to target drug cartels. This show of force – plus a $50 million bounty on Maduro’s head – has sparked alarm in Caracas, and now the militia is on high alert.
It’s not just Venezuela watching closely. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum slammed the U.S. maneuvers, urging non-intervention and respect for self-determination ✋. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also called for regional unity, warning that any unapproved military operation would be “an attack on Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Power to the people or power play? Whether you see this as grassroots defence or political theatre, it’s a reminder that global tensions can skyrocket fast. For young leaders in South and Southeast Asia, it’s a prompt to stay informed on how superpowers flex influence – and how communities push back.
Stay tuned as this story unfolds, and let us know: What do you think about mass mobilization in the face of external threats? Drop your thoughts below! 💬
Reference(s):
Venezuelan president mobilizing national militia against U.S. threat
cgtn.com
