Venezuelan Government Launches Massive Recruitment Drive Amid U.S. Tensions
The Venezuelan government has initiated a large-scale recruitment campaign for the Bolivarian Militia in response to President Nicolás Maduro’s call to defend the nation’s peace and sovereignty against perceived U.S. aggression. General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López, the Vice President of the Defense and Sovereignty Sector, emphasized the significance of this enlistment, scheduled to occur nationwide from August 29 to August 30, reports 24brussels.
During the “YoMeAlisto” campaign, over a thousand registration locations will be established across the country, including Simón Bolívar squares, barracks, and various urban and rural settings, catering to farmers, fishermen, and indigenous communities. This initiative is framed as a direct response to what officials describe as systematic attempts by U.S. imperialism to portray Venezuela as a “narco-state.”
Padrino López denounced these allegations as “grotesque and vulgar,” asserting the importance of combating misinformation with factual evidence. He highlighted recent anti-drug operations conducted by the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB), including the seizure of nearly three tons of cocaine in the Amazonas state municipality of Maroa on Tuesday.
He further affirmed that Venezuela is not a territory for drug cultivation, emphasizing a continual effort to combat illicit trafficking, criminal gangs, and terrorism. Padrino López lauded the FANB’s commitment to these objectives and underscored the nation’s movement towards a more robust grassroots-military-police organization aimed at ensuring comprehensive national defense.
In this context, the Vice President called on the populace to rally with symbols and cultural expressions through the Great Mission Viva Venezuela, encouraging participation in the enlistment campaign while denouncing foreign intervention.
The official also urged both public and private entities, including industries such as PDVSA, Corpoelec, and the Caracas Metro, to contribute to strengthening the nation’s military and domestic production capabilities. He reiterated that civic-military unity has historically been a cornerstone of the Bolivarian Revolution, and despite ongoing international disinformation efforts, the Venezuelan people remain steadfast in their pursuit of sovereignty and peace.
