Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has mobilised 4.5 million civilian fighters in response to a major U.S. military deployment near Latin America and the Caribbean.
Speaking to local officials from his ruling coalition, Maduro described the move as a strategy to safeguard national sovereignty against what he labelled as "U.S. threats of war".
His plan includes strengthening both rural and urban rebel groups and forming combat units within factories and workplaces. He called the approach a "perfect fusion of people, police and armed forces".
The announcement follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Caracas and Washington. Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest over alleged ties to international drug trafficking. Maduro has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, U.S. defence officials confirmed the deployment of more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to the region. The naval package includes the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine, among other assets. While their specific destination remains undisclosed.
Pentagon sources say the buildup enhances President Donald Trump’s strategic options against cartels designated as narco-terrorists.
Officials insist the deployment is designed as a deterrent, not a precursor to military action. However, questions remain about the readiness of U.S. forces for counter-narcotics missions, with defence sources noting that Marines lack specialised training in such operations and would need to coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard for interdiction tasks.
The simultaneous military moves have fuelled regional anxieties, as both sides frame their actions as defensive while accusing the other of escalating tensions.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their nati...
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including thr...
The first batch of Peter Mandelson’s papers on his 2024 ambassadorial appointment is set to be published on Wednesday, following a parliament...
A freight train carrying more than 1,000 tons of Russian grain will depart for Armenia through Azerbaijani terr...
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reporte...
Recent operations by the U.S. military have led some to believe that a decapitating strike is a silver bullet capable of fixing any foreign policy problem swiftly. However, this logic is flawed, and the risks of relying on swift, targeted actions are too great to ignore.
The United States and interim authorities in Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday (5 February), aiming to foster a peaceful transition to elect a new government in the South American country.
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab and Ombudsman Alfredo Ruiz tendered their resignations to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Neither official has publicly provided reasons for stepping down.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared a “golden age” for America in his first second-term State of the Union on Tuesday evening, delivering the longest-ever address at more than 90 minutes. Here are the main takeaways.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
The first batch of Peter Mandelson’s papers on his 2024 ambassadorial appointment is set to be published on Wednesday, following a parliamentary order. The release comes amid police investigations over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reported a man inside the vehicle set himself alight. Three others were injured and taken to hospital, while authorities continue their investigation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 11th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile and drone strikes across the Middle East - all the latest updates throughout the day on AnewZ
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment