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Maduro Announces Start of Unexpected Military Drills in Venezuela

© AFP 2023 / FEDERICO PARRAA member of the National Guard takes part in military exercises for the 'Bolivarian Shield 2020 Operation' at Metropolitan distributor in Caracas, on February 15, 2020
A member of the National Guard takes part in military exercises for the 'Bolivarian Shield 2020 Operation' at Metropolitan distributor in Caracas, on February 15, 2020 - Sputnik International
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BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday unexpectedly that new military drills would start in the country, following the plunge in global oil prices and the subsequent stock indices sharp decrease.
"We are starting the second phase of the drills for the sake of peace, independence and strength of our motherland," Maduro wrote on Twitter.

In mid-February, Venezuela held its first military drills in 2020, after which Maduro said that national security forces were preparing surprise counter-terrorism exercises amid the threat of subversive groups, which could arrive from Colombia and the United States. Apart from that, Venezuela is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and a major oil producer, which means it may be affected by the oil prices slump, triggered by OPEC's failure to agree on deeper production cuts.

Military and civil forces, including the national militia, have been deployed to the states of Miranda, Apure, Bolivar and the Capital District.

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