Venezuela has announced the start of large-scale military exercises aimed at protecting its airspace from possible foreign invasion.
According to Euronews, military, militia, police and community leaders belonging to Nicolas Maduro’s government are said to be taking part in drills that began across the country on Tuesday.
“We remain determined to be prepared to defend our homeland in all areas, whatever the threat, whatever its strength or scale,” Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said in a statement broadcast on state television.
The exercises come amid heightened tensions with the United States following the Trump administration’s order to send warships near Venezuela.
The United States has carried out multiple airstrikes against shipping in the Caribbean in recent months, including one announced by Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth earlier this week.
Hegseth said the attacks targeted two drug-trafficking ships in the eastern Pacific Ocean and killed six people.
A total of 19 airstrikes have killed at least 75 people since the Trump administration launched its anti-drug offensive in the region.
President Maduro accused the US government of “fabricating” a war against him.
Master’s degree/PR