Venezuela Readies Biggest Military Exercise in Its History

  • Exercises come as opposition pushes for ousting of president
  • Defense Minister says it’s first mobilization of its kind

Nicolas Maduro gestures during a news conference in Caracas, on May 17, 2016.

Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg
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Venezuela is preparing for the biggest military exercises in its history this Saturday after the South American country’s government said it’s on high alert as the opposition pushes for a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro.

“Venezuela is threatened,” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on state television Thursday. “This is the first time we are carrying out an exercise of this nature in the country. In terms of national reach, it’s going to be in every strategic region.”