Venezuela inaugurated 5,600 newly trained soldiers on Saturday, amidst rising tensions with the United States. This event represents one of the largest military mobilizations in years, as U.S. forces increase operations targeting what Washington describes as “narco-terrorist” networks associated with President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The ceremony at Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military complex, featured units described by Venezuelan officials as “revolutionary, socialist fighters” trained under the Tactical Method of Revolutionary Resistance, a doctrine that integrates soldiers, police, and civilian reservists for asymmetric defense operations.
Colonel Gabriel Rendón told recruits that Venezuela would resist any foreign intervention. “Under no circumstances will we allow an invasion by an imperialist force,” Rendón said, according to local reporting and international wire service accounts.
Venezuela maintains roughly 200,000 troops and an additional 200,000 police officers, according to government figures.
U.S. Deploys Carrier Group, Conducts 22 Strikes in Region
The troop ceremony comes as the United States has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and additional naval assets to the Caribbean as part of an expanded effort to target maritime trafficking networks tied to what the U.S. now designates as a foreign terrorist organization.
Since early September, U.S. forces have conducted 22 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least 87 individuals, according to Pentagon statements and reporting from multiple outlets. The operations are part of an intensified campaign authorized under President Donald Trump against organizations the administration identifies as threats to U.S. national security.
In November, the U.S. formally designated the Cartel de los Soles—a network of Venezuelan military and intelligence officials long accused of coordinating cocaine shipments—a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The designation states that senior Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, play leadership roles in the group. Venezuela has denied the allegations.
Death of Former Governor Adds to Domestic Tensions
Hours before the troop ceremony, rights groups confirmed that Alfredo Díaz, the former governor of Nueva Esparta, died in custody while awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges. He is the sixth opposition figure reported to have died in prison since late 2024.
Venezuela’s post-election unrest last year resulted in 28 deaths and approximately 2,400 arrests, according to human-rights organizations. Nearly 2,000 of those detained have been released. Foro Penal, a nonprofit tracking political detentions, says 887 political prisoners remain in custody.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, along with former presidential candidate Edmundo González, condemned the deaths as part of “post-electoral repression.”
DX Exclusive: Former Maduro Spy Chief Warned U.S. of Narco-Terrorism Threat
Saturday’s developments follow The Dallas Express’ exclusive reporting published on December 3, which contained a letter from Hugo Carvajal Barrios, the former Director of Military Intelligence under both Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.
Carvajal—extradited to the United States and now convicted in a federal narco-terrorism case—alleges in the letter that the Maduro government functions as a state-directed criminal enterprise that has “weaponized” cocaine, intelligence networks, and transnational gangs against the United States.
In the letter, shared with The Dallas Express by Carvajal’s attorney, he claims:
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The Cartel de los Soles intentionally directed cocaine shipments toward U.S. cities.
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Venezuelan officials collaborated with FARC, ELN, Cuban intelligence, and Hezbollah.
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Criminal groups, including Tren de Aragua, were deployed abroad and later exploited U.S. border vulnerabilities.
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Venezuelan and Cuban intelligence services infiltrated U.S. institutions for two decades.
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Election-management technologies developed in Venezuela were later exported internationally.
Carvajal wrote that he supports President Trump’s Venezuela policy and is prepared to provide additional information to federal authorities. U.S. officials have not publicly commented on the letter’s contents. The Dallas Express noted at publication that it has not independently verified all of Carvajal’s allegations.
A Rapidly Escalating Security Environment
The combination of Venezuela’s new troop induction, the United States’ expanding maritime enforcement operations, and Carvajal’s detailed allegations has drawn increased attention from regional governments and U.S. lawmakers.
While Venezuelan officials characterize the U.S. deployments as preparation for an invasion, U.S. officials maintain the operations are focused on counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism objectives.
The situation continues to evolve, with analysts noting that Venezuela’s asymmetric-warfare doctrine—and the scale of Saturday’s ceremony—suggests the country is preparing its military and civilian auxiliaries for a prolonged period of heightened tension.
This is a developing story. The Dallas Express will continue to report updates as they become available.
