Venezuela Accelerates Preparations For Possible Invasion By U.S. (Video)

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Illustrative image. (Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela)

The Venezuelan government announced on November 11 it is launching a “massive mobilization” of military personnel, weapons and equipment in response to the United States military buildup in the Caribbean Sea.

The military preparations include the “massive deployment of ground, aerial, naval, riverine and missile forces,” according to a statement shared by Minister of People’s Power for Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who described the deployment as a response to the “imperialist threat” posed by the U.S.

In addition to regular military units, the exercises will involve police units and the Bolivarian Militia – a reserve force made up of civilians that was created by the late President Hugo Chávez and is named after Simon Bolivar, the revolutionary who secured the independence of numerous Latin American countries from Spain.

Padrino Lopez, who attributed the order directly to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, said that the objective of the exercise was to “optimize command, control and communications” and ensure the defense of the country.

The announcement came right after the Pentagon confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group began operating in the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, which includes Central and South America, the Caribbean, and their territorial waters, with the exception of U.S. territories.

The Ford joined an amphibious ready group led by the USS Iwo Jima landing helicopter dock that was deployed to the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility in August, which saw the start of U.S. escalation against Venezuela with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump doubled the reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million on drug trafficking charges.

Since then, the U.S. military has carried out 19 strikes against boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 75 people.

According to a recent U.S. media report, the Trump administration is close to a decision on an attack against drug cartels in Venezuela, with options on the table including targeting Maduro himself and occupying the country’s oil fields.

With Ford in SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, it can be assumed that the U.S. military now has everything it needs in place to launch an attack against Venezuela.

Trump could opt for a limited attack. Venezuela will not react in such a case. However, a more complex operation that leads to a regime change in Caracas is far more likely. The U.S. main goal is clearly to tap into the country’s large oil reserves and with Maduro in charge, an agreement that favors the interests of Washington can’t be reached.

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