In a televised address Tuesday night, Maduro framed the militia deployment as a defense of national sovereignty and a response to “imperialist aggression.”

“We will not kneel. Venezuela will defend its peace, its independence, and its dignity,” Maduro said, vowing resistance to U.S. pressure.

However, independent estimates suggest the actual number of trained and active militia members is significantly lower than the government’s claim.

U.S. Allegations and Caribbean Standoff

The United States has intensified its pursuit of Maduro, alleging that his administration collaborated with international drug cartels to smuggle cocaine laced with fentanyl into U.S. territory. According to U.S. federal authorities, nearly 30 tons of narcotics tied to Maduro linked networks have been seized in recent months.

In response, the U.S. State Department raised the bounty for Maduro’s capture, labeling him a “narco dictator” responsible for the deliberate poisoning of American communities.

Caracas has rejected the accusations, with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil calling the reward increase “a pathetic political stunt” designed to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs ahead of its 2025 general elections.

Tensions escalated further after the deployment of Venezuelan forces to the Caribbean coast, coinciding with the arrival of U.S. Navy destroyers in the region. The military presence on both sides has raised fears of a potential standoff, though neither government has signaled imminent conflict.

Background:

Maduro has been under U.S. sanctions and criminal indictments since 2020, when federal prosecutors accused him and senior officials of operating a “narco terrorism” scheme. Despite international pressure and a collapsing economy, he has maintained power, backed by loyalist institutions and regional allies.

In the video Malema said, “These people, when you want to hit them hard, go after a white man. They feel terrible pain because you have touched a white man. We’re cutting the throat of whiteness.”

Elon Musk took to X, demanding that Julius Malema be immediately sanctioned and declared an international criminal. In response, Malema accused Musk of being a “direct beneficiary of apartheid” and asserted that he would continue his fight for the equality of black people.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, dismissed Musk’s comments, stating that the party would not be intimidated or back down from its strong commitment to confronting imperialism and its supporters, like Musk, wherever they appear.

Thambo emphasized that the EFF was not surprised by Musk’s remarks, stating that Malema’s stance on African struggles and his opposition to Western imperialism naturally made him an enemy of the “global capitalist establishment.” She went on to say that Musk’s interference in South Africa’s internal affairs was unacceptable, describing him as an imperialist attempting to undermine the country’s sovereignty through sanctions and efforts to strain relations between South Africa and the United States.

“The EFF declares Musk an enemy of South Africa and a captor of US governance, whose actions will ultimately lead to that nation’s downfall,” Thambo added.

Tensions between South Africa and the US have been rising recently, particularly due to the ICC case endorsed by President Ramaphosa and the new Expropriation Act. The EFF has also made it clear that Musk’s Starlink must comply with South African laws, specifically the requirement for 30% local ownership, if it is to operate in the country.

“Elon Musk has captured the US presidency and is using his office to further his global business interests. His harmful influence must be opposed by all nations that value their sovereignty and independence,” Thambo concluded.