In brief
Following a deadly US military operation that killed 17 people off Venezuela's coast, the Venezuelan government has initiated a campaign to arm civilians as tensions escalate. The National Bolivarian Militia, a civilian defense force, is being called into action as fears grow regarding US intentions in the region. Reports on the increasing militarization of local populations reflect government efforts to foster unity and preparedness against perceived threats from the US.
When Edith Perales was younger, he enlisted in the National Bolivarian Militia, a civilian force created by the late President Hugo Chávez in 2009 to help defend Venezuela.
We have to be a country capable of defending every last inch of our territory so no one comes to mess with us, Chávez said at the time.
Sixteen years on, Perales, who is now 68, is joining thousands of other militia members getting ready for a potential US attack.
The rag-tag force, mainly made up of senior citizens, has been called up following the deployment of US navy ships in the South Caribbean on what US officials said were counter-narcotics operations.
The US force has destroyed at least three boats it said were carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US, killing at least 17 people on board.
Venezuela's defence minister, Vladimir Padrino, said the attacks and the US naval deployment amounted to a non-declared war by the US against Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro swiftly called the militia into active duty.
Perales has got his uniform and boots at hand, ready to defend his bastion – the Caracas neighbourhood where he lives.
A loyal government supporter, he says he is ready to serve whenever they call me. We have to defend the fatherland, he tells the BBC, echoing speeches given by President Maduro in the wake of the strikes on the boats.
While the US military presence intensifies, Maduro's approach has led to the training of civilians, with the government asserting that these groups are essential for national security. Community members, including women and the elderly, are participating in weapons training exercises, emphasizing their commitment to defense against foreign aggression.
As the situation develops, experts speculate about the implications for US-Venezuela relations, pointing to a complicated history and suggesting that the current militarization is primarily a strategic move to fortify domestic support amidst external pressures.
