MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Voluntary enlistment for Venezuelans extended

“The peoples of the world admire our courage!” Maduro insisted

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has extended his “Call to Arms” initiative, giving citizens the chance to enlist on Aug. 29 and 30 in the Bolivarian militia to defend the country's sovereignty and peace. The initiative, which began over the past weekend under the slogan “#YoMeAlisto,” is described as the “first step to activate the National Defense System, as mandated by our history of liberty and the laws of the Republic.”

Maduro's actions come in response to what he calls “threats” from the United States, including a heavy military deployment in the Caribbean. Washington has said that its naval operations targeted drug trafficking, specifically those routes linked to the “Cartel de los Soles,” an organization believed to be made up of the Venezuelan government's top brass.

In a broadcast message, Maduro accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of leading “warmongering plans” against Venezuela and described him as a powerful figure in Washington who is “plotting psychological and political warfare” against his country.

The Bolivarian leader also warned that Rubio's “madness and extremism” could lead to a worst-case scenario with Trump's administration. Maduro also insisted that the US was an “imperialist and warmongering state” that seeks to impose its global dominance.

In this scenario, Maduro hailed that ”the people, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the Militia are stronger than ever today“ because they have a brave, patriotic, and combative people: ”We have seen the world admire us, as ordinary people of all ages enlisted en masse to defend their land and their homeland.”