Venezuela Launches National Enlistment Campaign Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
Venezuela initiated a nationwide enlistment campaign this weekend, under the slogan “Yo me alisto” (“I enlist”), urging citizens to voluntarily join the Bolivarian National Militia in response to recent U.S. naval and aerial deployments in the Caribbean. The mobilization, featuring over 15,000 registration points nationwide, is part of the Simón Bolívar National Plan for Sovereignty and Peace, reports 24brussels.
General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López, the Vice President for Political Sovereignty, Security, and Peace, oversaw the campaign’s second day in Miranda state. He characterized the turnout as a demonstration of “total effervescence of the people in the streets,” highlighting the public’s commitment to the nation’s defense and their awareness of the situation at hand.
President Nicolás Maduro, who announced the initiative last Thursday, called on citizens to participate “beyond ideologies or political differences,” framing the enlistment as a patriotic duty to defend national sovereignty. “When the bugle of the homeland sounds, even a mother’s cry falls silent,” he stated, echoing the sentiments of revolutionary figures.
The campaign’s first day, Saturday, August 23, witnessed significant participation from individuals and families across various demographics. Maduro referred to the day as one of “nationality, patriotism, and love for Venezuela,” reinforcing its symbolic importance.
This enlistment effort follows the deployment of U.S. destroyers and aircraft near Venezuelan waters, which Washington claims are part of anti-narcotics operations. However, Caracas perceives these actions as a direct threat to its territorial integrity.
Opposition leaders expressed their condemnation of foreign interference. In a statement delivered by Cojedes Governor José Alberto Galíndez, a coalition of mayors, legislators, and community leaders asserted that “policies that produce repression, sanctions, or foreign intervention do not offer lasting solutions for our people.”
International criticism has also grown. The Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity (REDH) condemned U.S. actions, including the reward placed on President Maduro, and urged regional organizations such as CELAC to safeguard Venezuela’s sovereignty and uphold international law.
The enlistment campaign aims to enhance the fifth component of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and bolster Venezuela’s defensive capabilities amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.
