Tensions between Venezuela and the United States continue to escalate. President Nicolás Maduro on September 11 called on his troops, police, and civilian militias to prepare for an “armed fight” if the US attacks, announcing the deployment of forces across 284 battlefront locations nationwide. Washington has stepped up its military presence in the Caribbean, stationing F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico, and recently carried out a deadly strike that killed 11 people — which the White House said were drug traffickers. Venezuela disputes that claim, accusing the US of assassinating civilians. Meanwhile, President Trump has defended the strike, doubled the reward for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, and vowed to crack down on narcotics networks.