Venezuela’s government said this past week that it had launched a sweeping military mobilization and begun training civilians for combat, portraying the moves as defensive steps against what it called an escalating threat from the United States.

The measures come as Washington has intensified military operations in the Caribbean, killing dozens of people in a campaign that U.S. officials say is aimed at drug trafficking networks. But U.S. officials, in private, have said the ultimate goal is to push out President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

Maduro and top military officials said this past week that they had activated new defense zones across the country and called on civilians to join what they described as a patriotic effort to protect the nation.

For days, Venezuelan officials have b

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