Venezuela kicks off major exercise in response to US sanctions

[BLACKEAGLE]

Inigo Guevara, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
16 March 2015

Exercise 'Escudo Bolivariano' ('Bolivarian Shield'), which began on March 14, is to last 10 days and is in response to the United States designating Venezuela a threat to its national security, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on 16 March.

Venezuela's Minister of Defence, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, announced that the exercise will mobilise 80,000 troops and 20,000 civilians and expand to the seven defence zones. The navy deployed three Lupo-class guided-missile frigates and three Avante-2200-class ocean patrol vessels to form a maritime shield.

So far, 'Escudo Bolivariano' has included a large amphibious assault using the marine's recently delivered NORINCO VN-1 8x8 armoured personnel carriers, launched from Damen Stan Lander-class and Capana-class landing vessels out of Puerto Cabello; a land counter-offensive including tanks, mechanised infantry, and self-propelled artillery in Pao Cojedes; and an air defence drill of a simulated attack on its Paraguana refinery.
Venezuela kicks off major exercise in response to US sanctions - IHS Jane's 360

 

[kana_marie]

We have mastered not making friends. Alienating so many other countries is not going to end well for us. Even if we come out ahead in the end, it's going to cost us.

 

[Rebel]

This literally has nothing to do with the United States. Venezuela is a habitual offender when it comes to blaming the US for it's own domestic problems. The problem is Venezuela is impoverished and it's dictatorship weak. By blaming the US and presenting the US as a enemy that they must defend against is how this dictatorship remains in power. It's how they subdue the people from uprising and performing a coup. Most of the common folk don't have any idea what America does, stands for, or is even thinking in any way. North Korea is probably the most visible offender when it comes to blaming the US for domestic problems.

Either way these small nation states can exercise. They pose no real threat to the US in anyway. The US has barely any interest in their crumbling down societies so they'll just prepare for a false invasion forever. Whatever floats their boats.