Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro on Monday said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to US "threats," after Washington raised the bounty for his arrest and launched anti-drug operations in the Caribbean.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that more than 4.5 million armed militia members would be deployed across the country this week amid escalating tensions with Washington. Speaking on state television, Maduro said Monday the deployment was part of a “peace plan” and called on the militia members to be “ready, active and armed.”