Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has pledged that his administration would make investments to provide the country’s armed forces and militia with the most advanced military equipment and warned other countries against threatening Venezuela.
“We will make investments so that our soldiers, military and militia have the most advanced weaponry… Venezuela will have [everything] from an Igla [Russian man-portable missile] in the hands of its militia and the military to the most advanced missiles because Venezuela wants peace,” Maduro broadcast on his official Twitter feed on Sunday.
Maduro also stressed that the Venezuelan soldiers were ready to die for their country, was the Venezuelan people are also major force that would stand up for their homeland.
“We are a peaceful country and we are not engaged in (military) conflicts with anyone. However, others should not try to conflict with us and threaten us as well,” Maduro warned.
On Sunday, Maduro launched Venezuela’s most large scale military drills to last until February 15, taking part by both military and militia, amid the ongoing socio-political crisis in the country.
Estamos demostrando al mundo que nuestra Patria es libre, soberana e inexpugnable. Contamos con un pueblo que está de pie y armado de conciencia para defender la independencia nacional. ¡Imperio, saca tus manos de Venezuela! ¡Yankee Go Home! pic.twitter.com/CmObHGs6S4
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) February 11, 2019
Venezuela remains the main importer of Russian military equipment in Latin America.