venezuela has declared the united states to be an 'imminent danger' at the launch of two weeks of cold war style military drills and parades featuring weapons made in russia and china chanting 'socialist motherland' and branding the us 'imperialist', 80,000 military staff and 20,000 civilians took the streets of the capital caracas for anti american protests on saturday afternoon the venezuelan parliament followed the protests by yesterday approving a law giving embattled president nicolas maduro the power to legislate by decree for nine months in the face of what were described as 'american threats' to the south american nation the launch of two weeks of military drills came just days after barack obama declared venezuela a national security threat, restricted travel to the nation and froze the assets of some citizens of a nation already struggling with a widespread shortage of goods anti american: the venezuelan parliament followed the protests by yesterday approving a law giving embattled president nicolas maduro (pictured) the power to legislate by decree for nine months in the face of what were described as 'america threats' to the south american nation  show of strength: venezuela declared the united states to be an 'imminent danger' at the launch of two weeks of cold war style military drills and parades featuring weapons made in russia and china  yesterday venezuela's parliament approved a law giving maduro the power to legislate by decree for nine months in the face of what he described as threats by the us government the so called 'anti imperialist' law will be in effect from the time it is published in venezuela's official gazette until december 31 maduro requested the expanded powers in response to new us sanctions on venezuelan officials accused of human rights violations critics of venezuela's government have called the move a power grab the us is targeting officials in the top echelon of venezuela's security apparatus responsible for cracking down on last year's anti government protests and for pursuing charges against opponents the officials will be denied us visas and have their us assets frozen the leaders of south america's leftist governments have come out in support of venezuela, while washington has denied maduro's claim that it is seeking to undermine his government and urged him to focus on venezuela's domestic problems, including food shortages and soaring inflation venezuelan soldiers take part in the military exercises ordered by nicolas maduro in caracas on saturday  support: yesterday venezuela's parliament approved a law giving nicolas maduro (pictured) the power to legislate by decree for nine months in the face of what he described as threats by the us government  the two weeks of military drills are widely seen as maduro's attempt to stir up patriotic sentiment in the hope of improving his falling approval rating ahead of key parliamentary elections later this year speaking to the financial times, carlos romero, a professor of international relations at the central university of venezuela, said washington's declaration of the nation as a national security threat has 'worked very well for the venezuelan government' he said venezuela had used the announcement to 'trumpet up support' for the government by reacting in 'an exaggerated, almost dramatic' manner maduro has previously claimed that the united states, which remains venezuela's largest cash generating oil export market, has backed attempts to remove him from power in 2002 a coup that had the tacit support of america briefly ousted the late hugo chávez   maduro's charismatic mentor and presidential predecessor
venezuela anti us venezuelan nicolas maduro american barack obama
80,000 military staff and 20,000 civilians took part in a weekend parade . called venezuela a 'socialist motherland' and chanted anti us slogans . venezuelan parliament approved law for president to legislate by decree . nicolas maduro said legal change came in the face of 'american threats'. last week barack obama declared venezuela a national security threat 