Venezuela swears in 5,600 new troops amid US military build-up

The Venezuelan army swore in 5,600 new soldiers on Saturday, as the United States cranks up military pressure on the oil-producing country.

President Nicolas Marudo has called for stepped-up military recruitment as the United States deployed a fleet of warships and the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. According to official figures, Venezuela has 200,000 troops and an additional 200,000 police officers.