President Nicolas Maduro has called for increased military recruitment after the United States sent warships and the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking, Arab News reported.
The US military carried out deadly attacks on more than 20 ships, killing at least 87 people.
Last month, the U.S. government accused Maduro of leading the Sunshine Cartel, which it labeled a terrorist organization.
President Maduro claims the US deployment is aimed at overthrowing him and seizing the country’s oil reserves.
“We will not tolerate aggression by imperialist forces under any circumstances,” Col. Gabriel Rendón said Saturday at a ceremony at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex in Caracas.
According to official statistics, Venezuela has about 200,000 troops and another 200,000 police officers.
MNA