Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, stating that his country is in need of increased protection against a looming threat coming from the U.S., has called for a series of military exercises.

Around 100,000 members of the armed forces of Venezuela will be occupied with 10 days of exercises that employ shoulder-fired missiles, fighter planes and armored trucks.

Last week Washington imposed sanctions on several Venezuelan officials that were accused of human rights violations and declared the socialist country a threat to U.S. national security.

After the sanctions were placed on Venezuelan leaders, Maduro’s country received some support from other nations, such as Cuba, Bolivia and Ecuador, which have been critical of U.S. actions.

The military exercises were initiated at Fort Tiuna in Caracas, the largest military installation in Venezuela, by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez.

According to The Associated Press, Lopez said that U.S. sanctions constitute an “imminent danger” for Venezuela, and the armed forces must ready themselves to ensure the country's independence.

Maduro praised the skills shown by the armed forces on the first day of the exercises, saying, in a nationally broadcast talk Saturday night, "We have a military that is the best guarantee of peace."

Maduro added, "The insolent boot of imperialism dared touch the sacred land of Venezuela, that day if we had to fight for the dignity of our country, we would do it for peace and for the sovereignty and the integrity [of Venezuela]."

The U.S. has denied Maduro's assertion that it is trying to undermine the Venezuelan government.

At an anti-imperialist rally last Thursday in central Caracas, Maduro made a defiant speech calling the U.S. a monster.

As reported by Al Jazerra, Maduro said, "The terrorist threats we defeat, we have lured the monster out of its lair and now the big monster doesn't know what to do with its threats. The monster is now naked to the world."