Millions of Venezuelans have enlisted since late August in response to the government’s call to rebuild the Bolivarian Militia to confront the intimidation and threat of a US invasion. President Nicolas Maduro plans to gather up to 4.5 million new volunteers to ensure that the militia fully covers the national territory, “ready, active, and armed.” In an October 24 interview, Carlos Ron, Venezuela’s former minister for foreign affairs and current negotiator with the US, said that 15 million have already volunteered for the program.

The volunteers undergo training, usually on weekends. They are taught the use of basic weapons, as well as logistical and medical support tasks. These trainings strengthen the unity of the people against external threats.

Ron said the Venezuelans are aware that US President Donald Trump uses the false campaign against drug trafficking as a pretext to meddle in their country and attempt a “regime change,” replacing Maduro as president and installing a pro-US opposition. They condemned the indiscriminate bombings of boats in international waters without due process or proper legal proceedings. Most of those killed in the explosions are not Venezuelan but nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Aside from the bombings, the US has also launched attacks, harassment, and detentions against fisherfolk and other civilian vessels.

This October, Maduro announced the reactivation of the Simon Bolivar Internationalist Brigades, an international force to defend peace in Venezuela.

“We have received messages of solidarity from across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the US, Asia, and Europe from leaders… who are also enlisting in the reactivated Simon Bolivar Internationalist Brigades to unite and fight alongside Venezuela for independence, sovereignty, and peace,” Maduro declared.

The Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST) of Brazil is among those preparing to send “brigades of activists.”

Meanwhile, progressive Filipino organizations have expressed solidarity with Venezuela’s struggle. Led by the Philippines-Bolivarian Venezuela Friendship Association, a forum was held on October 30 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) with the theme “Confronting Hegemony, Forging Sovereignty: A Global South Stand Against US Militarism and War on Venezuela.” The forum’s guest was Richard Espinoza Lobo, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Philippines.

“The Philippines-Bolivarian Venezuela Friendship Association firmly stands with the Venezuelan people,” the organization declared. “We recognize that their struggle is our struggle too—that the forces attacking Venezuela are the same ones exploiting and oppressing the Filipino people.”

They called on the peoples of the world to condemn the imperialist offensive against Venezuela.

“We must expose lies, change the narratives, and resist the machinery of war and exploitation,” the group said. “We must demand the lifting of all sanctions (on Venezuela), the withdrawal of foreign troops, and respect for Venezuela’s right to self-determination.”