Venezuela Orders "Civic-Military" Mobilization After U.S. Confirms Land Strikes

CARACAS/WASHINGTON — The Venezuelan government has ordered the immediate activation of all "social and political forces" to support national defense plans, confirming the Maduro administration is shifting to a war footing. The decree is a direct response to "Operation Southern Spear," a U.S. campaign that has rapidly escalated from maritime interdiction to confirmed kinetic strikes on Venezuelan soil.

The mobilization integrates civilian militias and neighborhood committees with the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), a move designed to fortify internal control as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group presses the coastline.

Crossing the Threshold The catalyst for this escalation is the breach of a critical military threshold. On December 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces struck a "dock area" on the Venezuelan coast. While the White House characterized the target as a narcotics logistics hub for the "Cartel of the Suns," Caracas views the destruction of sovereign infrastructure as an act of war. For observers monitoring military engagement criteria, this land-based strike marks a definitive shift from saber-rattling to direct conflict.

Maritime Friction Simultaneously, the maritime domain has become a volatile friction point. Following the carrier group's arrival on January 2, U.S. forces have aggressively targeted vessels alleged to supply the Maduro regime. Between December 29 and 31, multiple strikes were reported on ships in the Caribbean and Pacific.

While the Pentagon classifies these as counter-narcotics operations, the distinction between "narcotics trafficking" and state-sanctioned oil transport remains fluid. Washington’s designation of specific infrastructure as "terrorist assets" significantly raises the probability of further vessel seizures or sinkings, particularly regarding oil tankers suspected of financing the regime.

Diplomatic Collapse Diplomatic off-ramps are rapidly closing. Despite President Maduro’s January 1 statement indicating openness to talks regarding migration, Washington’s stance remains uncompromising. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reiterated that the U.S. views the targeted assets not as sovereign property, but as the instruments of a "foreign terrorist organization."

With U.S. forces now executing land-based strikes and the Venezuelan "civic-military" apparatus fully activated, the region has moved beyond the status quo of economic sanctions into sustained military engagement.