According to several in the Venezuela media, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela has denounced “dangerous US military exercises, called Tradewinds, with the participation of Caribbean countries.” and “that means an imminent danger for us, so we have to use the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) as part of our constitutional mission to guarantee independence and sovereignty.”
On Saturday Venezuela staged a military exercise to counter the alleged U.S. threat, deploying soldiers and partisans across the country to march, man shoulder-fired missiles and defend an oil refinery from a simulated attack. Venezuela’s navy performed exercises in the Caribbean Sea and state-controlled television broadcast footage of a simulated intrusion at the Amuay, the OPEC country’s largest refinery.
Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has framed recent U.S. sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials as a bid to topple him, and on Saturday his government mobilized 80,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians as part of a 10-day military drill.
“The United States has declared Venezuela a threat,” said General Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s defense minister.
The first phase of “Tradewinds” held on May 3 thru June 3 focused on maritime security and disasters, was in the island of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the home to the command headquarters
The second phase, with ground and sea operations began on June 14 and scheduled to end on June 24 in Belize. The maneuvers involve 14 Caribbean nations, including Guyana, plus the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and Mexico, and are sponsored by the Southern Command of the United States
Venezuelan opposition leaders have accused increasingly unpopular Maduro of seeking to distract Venezuelans from long queues for scarce products, sky-high inflation and rampant crime. Some also voiced disquiet over the growing role of the military amid a larger crackdown on opposition. Last month, Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma was jailed and a 14 year-old boy was shot and killed by a police officer during a protest.
President Maduro, the former bus driver and union leader has given fiery, hours-long speeches during the past week as he seeks to rally his base around deep-seated distrust of the USA.
