Venezuelan President Calls First Day of Militia Enlistment Drive a “Total Success”

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 23, during the Great Enlistment and Call to the Ranks of the Bolivarian Militia, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the massive mobilization of citizens in public squares across the country as “beautiful” and “successful.”

In a nationwide telephone message, the president stated that “both the territorial force and the combat corps, reservists and citizens who, together with their families and communities, step forward to join the national defensive system built over these years, are the ones who guarantee territorial integrity.”

Maduro highlighted the large turnout of citizens at the opening of the enlistment drive for the Bolivarian National Militia, pointing to the patriotic fervor and commitment to defending the nation.

“We have witnessed a gigantic expression of nationalism, patriotism and love for Venezuela,” Maduro said, referring to the people’s response to what he called the “arrogant deployments of U.S. troops in the region.”

The president underscored the role of family and community unity in defending the nation, urging citizens to join the territorial militia and combat corps. He emphasized that defending the homeland is both an act of love and a civic duty. “Those who do not defend their homeland, who do not defend their family, are not capable of defending themselves. Those who do not love or admire the history and sovereignty of their country have lost their soul,” he declared.

Maduro announced that the process of reorganizing popular, military and police forces within the national defense system would continue Sunday in Bolívar squares throughout all municipalities.

He stressed that Venezuelan nationalism shields citizens from becoming “zombies that merely follow orders, as the fascists did.” He added, “Fortunately in Venezuela we have no zombies. The fascists were zombies, but the nationalist, patriotic people have stepped forward.”

With a call to action, Maduro proclaimed, “I enlist because I love my homeland, with my family, with my community. Enlist and join the ranks. Long live Venezuela, long live the homeland, long live peace!”

According to the government, these mass mobilizations reflect the people’s desire to maintain peace and avoid violent confrontations that could jeopardize the Peace Zone declared in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2014.

Officials also argued that citizens reject what they describe as disinformation campaigns aimed at linking Venezuelan authorities to drug trafficking, claiming such narratives seek to justify new armed aggression and represent another escalation of psychological warfare unleashed by former U.S. president Donald Trump.

The Declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted in 2014 during the CELAC Summit in Havana, affirmed the region’s commitment, beyond political differences, to resolving conflicts peacefully and rejecting the use or threat of force.