Venezuelans learn to fight at war drills to defy Trump

caracas — Venezuelan troops taught civilians how to shoot rifles, fire missiles and engage in hand-to-hand combat during drills held on Saturday in defiance of US sanctions and President Donald Trump’s threat of military action.

War planes, tanks and 200,000 troops of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) deployed along with 700,000 reservists and civilians as socialist President Nicolas Maduro launched two days of military exercises.

In a Caracas military academy, soldiers taught civilians how to use their fists, rifles, bazookas and anti-aircraft guns and supervised them on obstacle courses.

“Yankees out!” 60-year-old Erica Avendano yelled as she bashed a rag dummy with her rifle on an assault course. “I hope nothing will happen, but we are ready for anything,” she told reporters.

Trump warned earlier this month that the United States was mulling a range of options against Venezuela, “including a possible military option if necessary.”

Top US officials later played down the threat. “No military actions are anticipated in the near future,” said US national security advisor HR McMaster.

But Trump’s tough talk bolstered Maduro’s oft-repeated claim that Washington is plotting to topple him and wants to grab control of Venezuela’s oil — the largest proven reserves in world.

Gregorio Valderrama, a 23-year-old father of three, received a shooting lesson from soldiers on Saturday. Valderrama said he was there to learn “to defend my country and my family.”

“We may not know how to handle a rifle and when to shoot, but here we are learning,” he added.

Maduro, the political heir to the late Hugo Chavez, has hung onto power despite food shortages and social upheaval. His grip is largely thanks to the support of the military, which holds vast powers in his government, including over food distribution. The opposition has repeatedly called on the army to abandon Maduro but so far he has faced only low-level dissent.

Military analyst Rocio San Miguel judged the weekend’s exercises to be “mere propaganda” rather than a meaningful challenge to Trump. She said they aimed to discourage “any disloyalty in the ranks of the FANB, which is a worry for the intelligence services,” and “to reinforce the anti-imperialist line.”—

We may not know how to handle a rifle and when to shoot, but here we are learning.” Gregorio Valderrama, 23-year-old father of three