Venezuelans train with firearms amid rising US tensions

Amid tensions with the US, including the Trump administration's recent strikes on suspected smuggling boats and an expanded US naval presence near Venezuela, the Venezuelan military has mobilized civilians by showcasing armored vehicles and letting them handle weapons, framing the effort as defense against foreign threats.

President Nicolás Maduro has urged citizens to join the national militia. Yet despite the patriotic atmosphere, journalists on the ground remain skeptical of the government's claims of unity, and experts note that Venezuela's military is far less powerful than that of the United States.