Source: CBS News
“Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to ‘outlandish threats’ by the United States after Washington raised the bounty for his arrest to $50 million and launched anti-drug operations in the Caribbean. ‘This week, I will activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory — militias that are prepared, activated and armed,’ Maduro announced on state television. Official figures say the Venezuelan militia, founded by Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez, contains about 5 million people — though the actual number is believed to be smaller. Venezuela’s total population is around 30 million. … Two sources briefed on the matter told the Reuters news agency that three U.S. destroyers will arrive off the coast of Venezuela soon.” (08/19/25)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-deploying-militia-us-threats/