Venezuela announced that 5,600 new soldiers have been sworn into the Bolivarian National Armed Forces amid rising tensions with the US.
The recruits were recruited due to "growing imperialist threats," local media reported, citing a government statement, referring to US threats and the deployment of a naval fleet in the Caribbean.
Recently, the US has expanded military operations throughout Latin America, deploying marines, warships, fighter jets, bombers, submarines, and drones.
The statement stressed that the new soldiers took an oath of loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro and described the armed forces as the backbone of Venezuela's "stability, peace, security and future."
Major General Javier Jose Marcano Tabata told state television VTV that military applications have increased.
"Right now, while imperialism threatens our country illegally, arbitrarily, full of lies and impudence, our people, especially young people, are coming in their thousands to join the Bolivarian National Armed Forces," Marcano said.
Official data shows that Venezuela has approximately 200,000 soldiers, 200,000 police officers and millions of reserve militia members.
The US has carried out at least 22 attacks in the region on ships suspected of transporting narcotics since September, killing at least 87 people.
US President Donald Trump warned that he will soon begin targeting Venezuelan drug trafficking networks "from the ground".
