Nicolas Maduro had militias called Colectivos in Venezuela. These government supplied groups are now supposedly being run by the government of Delcy Rodriguez, but more likely Diosdado Cabello. They are both suspected leaders in the Cartel of the Suns.
The Colectivos have been setting up roadblocks and hunting for Americans and opposition movement supporters since the 3 January 2026 extradition of Maduro. The US State Department warned US citizens not to travel to Venezuela and if in the country to leave if possible (The Hill).
A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” according to the text of the decree, Reuters reported. MSN
In Iran there are militias supported by the Iranian government called the Basij. They are assisting in government attempts to suppress the current Iranian Protests (CNN). The Ayatollah Khameini has called for protesters to be taught a lesson. Khomeini would have been proud.
The Basij are recruited from rural areas where people are less educated and more religious. They are financed and armed by the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Vladimir Putin has militias too! We are familiar with ethnic Russian militias made up of former colonists in some Ukraine territories. There is also the Night Wolves, a motorcycle gang/militia that has helped Putin intimidate Baltic States for decades. They even have a chapter in Australia. The Night Wolves are funded by the Kremlin, receiving “several hundred million rubles a year” according to Peter Pomerantsev. Knight Wolves formed a volunteer unit to fight with Russia in the current Russo Ukraine War.
Not to be outdone, US President Donald Trump has several right wing groups and militias that support him. The Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and The Base are examples. ICE has actively aimed recruiting efforts at people wanting to Make America White Again; offering a $50K sign on bonus to do so. An ICE recruitment video features a song commonly used in white nationalist propaganda – Public Enlightenment.
The Trump administration, as part of Project 2025, has cut spending on investigations into white nationalist militias.
- Trump Administration Abandoning Efforts to Combat White Supremacist and Far-Right Terrorism and Violence Global Project Against Hate and Extremism
- Far-Right Militias Seek Role in Trump Deportation Plan NYTimes
- Is Trump Building an Army of Modern Blackshirts? The Nation
- Who Will Stop the Militias Now? The Atlantic
- American Nazis: The Aryan Freedom Network is riding high in Trump era Reuters