Voluntary enlistment demonstrates deep patriotic feelings, Defense Minister Padrino Lopez pointed out.
On August 29, 2025, Venezuelans began enrolling in large numbers at 1,167 centers across the nation to join the Bolivarian National Militia, reports 24brussels.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez emphasized that the enlistment is a voluntary act reflecting a profound patriotic sentiment among the population. He indicated that the current enlistment campaign is part of a broader effort aimed at safeguarding Venezuelan sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Padrino Lopez declared, “With national unity, we will clear the path of military aggression posed by U.S. imperialism against our nation. Venezuelans already know who is behind the U.S. military threats against our country,” directly referencing extreme right factions reportedly trying to destabilize the Bolivarian revolution.
The recruitment initiative occurs over two days, August 29 and 30, as part of the “Simon Bolivar National Plan for Sovereignty and Peace.” To facilitate this effort, recruitment points are established in key squares of 335 cities, including rural and Indigenous communities.
Padrino Lopez criticized mainstream media for allegedly aiding in the psychological operations being executed by Washington amid increased military presence in the Caribbean. He remarked, “This is a big trial balloon to see how the world reacts to threats against our authorities,” dismissing the U.S. military deployment as “something completely absurd. Nobody in the world believes it.”
In addition, Padrino Lopez confirmed the deployment of 15,000 extra troops from the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) along the western border of Venezuela. This move is part of broader operations targeting organized crime, armed groups, and drug traffickers in the states of Tachira and Apure, underscoring the country’s commitment to tackling these challenges.
Source: VTV – teleSUR
