Dozens of military tanks rolled through Caracas on Saturday in an armed forces deployment called “Encounter with the People.”

The show of force came as tensions with the United States remain high over the presence of U.S. warships near Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said the exercises involved more than 5,300 militia circuits nationwide.

He told supporters in the capital that the goal was to "embrace the people in a show of solidarity, brotherhood, patriotism, and unity," and strengthen civilian defense units.

From early morning, soldiers fanned out into neighborhoods, squares, ports and beaches.

Uniformed troops traveled alongside residents on motorcycles, boats and other vehicles.

"Here we are in the streets, defending our country's peace," said activist Joel Guerrero. "There is a nation willing to maintain peace in their country."

The deployment is part of President Nicolás Maduro’s strategy of urging civilians to enlist in case of what he calls the threat of a U.S. invasion.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces carried out a third attack this month on a vessel accused of drug smuggling.

In a social media post, Trump said three people were killed and described the ship as linked to a designated terrorist organization.

He gave no details on the location of the strike.

AP Video shot by Andry Rincón