Tensions between the Venezuelan government and Obama Administration escalated in the last week, with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordering 10 days of massive ground, naval, and air defense exercises. On March 9, the White House sanctioned seven senior Venezuelan officials and labeled the country’s current situation as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States. Five days later, the Venezuelan exercises kicked off, involving Venezuelan troops training alongside visiting Russian troops and Chinese personnel, reported Sputnik news service. In total, between 80,000 and 100,000 military and civil defense personnel are participating in “Bolivarian Shield,” which includes counterair drills and the simulated defense of the national oil infrastructure along the coast, reported Reuters. US Southern Command boss Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly told Pentagon reporters last week he was concerned with the internal situation in Venezuela, which he has tracked closely, as widespread shortages of goods and supplies now exist. The country’s opposition political figures have gone from “being the political opposition to an enemy now,” he said, as Maduro’s government has “clamped down” and continued to consolidate power.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.