When Edith Perales was younger, he enlisted in the National Bolivarian Militia, a civilian force created by the late President Hugo Chávez in 2009 to help defend Venezuela.
We have to be a country capable of defending every last inch of our territory so no one comes to mess with us, Chávez said at the time.
Sixteen years on, Perales, who is now 68, is joining thousands of other militia members getting ready for a potential US attack.
The rag-tag force, mainly made up of senior citizens, has been called up following the deployment of US navy ships in the South Caribbean on what US officials said were counter-narcotics operations.
The US force has destroyed at least three boats it said were carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US, killing at least 17 people on board.
Venezuela's defence minister described the US attacks and naval activities as a non-declared war against their country, prompting President Nicolás Maduro to activate the militia.
Perales is prepared to defend his neighborhood in Caracas, a place historically known for its allegiance to the Chavista ideology. He echo's prevailing sentiments, saying, We have to defend the fatherland.\
The militia has now begun training civilians, particularly in poorer districts, to handle firearms amidst perceived threats from the US. Although many militia members lack experience, their commitment to protect their territory is palpable.
Experts suggest that such actions are less about preparing for armed conflict but rather about creating a human shield to deter further military actions from the United States. Maduro's administration claims millions of citizens are involved in the militia, although these numbers are contested.
The unfolding situation highlights deeper geopolitical tensions and the interior dynamics of a country grappling with its national identity and sovereignty in the face of external pressures.
