Inauguration event of the Caracas chapter of the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace, October 1, 2025. Photo: Telesur.
The vice president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Pedro Infante, presided over the inauguration of the Caracas Chapter of the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace at Dr. Mauricio Ramia Auditorium in the Botanical Garden of Caracas. The event took place on Wednesday, October 1, and was attended by governors from all the 24 states of the country, rectors of public and private universities, scientific authorities, parliamentarians, and religious leaders.
In his address, Infante emphasized that the initiative “has nothing to do with political or electoral opportunism” and that its sole purpose is to defend the “sacred right to self-determination, independence, and sovereignty and, fundamentally, peace.”
He highlighted that a “real, systematic threat” hangs over Venezuela, coming from the US government which is using as a pretext a “great lie, a fallacy”: the narrative of Venezuela being a narco-state to justify a possible military aggression.
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Infante refuted this propaganda, pointing out that reports from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Nations show that Colombia is the world’s largest drug producer, the United States is the largest consumer, and that narco-traffickers only attempt to smuggle about 5% of drugs trafficked from Colombia through Venezuela. He underscored that Venezuela has a “great capacity to combat drug trafficking,” having seized about 70% of the drugs that traffickers attempt to transit through the country. Infante referred to these US accusations as a “pretext” to justify a military escalation.
Infante further highlighted that surveys and opinion polls show that more than 95% of the Venezuelan people, including those who are not aligned with the Chavista government, condemn any military aggression against Venezuela by a foreign power. He also stated that the country is actively preparing for defense, although “no one wants war.”
Infante referred to President Nicolás Maduro’s call for military preparedness, which included the voluntary enrollment of millions of Venezuelans in the national militia. In this regard, he highlighted the enrollment of opposition members, merchants, and ordinary citizens who, although they may not be politically active, joined the militia to defend the dignity of the homeland.
In this vein, the parliamentarian emphasized that defending the homeland transcends any partisan or political considerations and that there are many ways to do so.
To illustrate this point, he invoked two historical examples. One of them was Saint JosĂ© Gregorio Hernández, “a man of social work,” who was “among the first to enlist to defend the country against a possible foreign invasion.” The other person was “Mocho” Hernández, a political opponent of former President Cipriano Castro, who, when Venezuela faced a foreign military threat, told him, “Tell me where my battle station is, and I will go there to defend the homeland.”
Defending the homeland means continuing with production and work
Infante emphasized that today, defending the nation also means engaging in production and daily work. “Keeping the country active and dynamic is an obligation while facing those who try to paralyze us,” he said.
In this regard, he stated that the farmers who till the land, the entrepreneurs who produce goods, and the academics who educate new generations and ensure the functioning of universities are also defending Venezuela.
He expressed his satisfaction at the participation of business leaders, academics, and social movements in the Sovereignty and Peace Council as a demonstration of the will for national unity.
“Peace has to be defended with political stability, economic recovery, and the pursuit of prosperity,” he emphasized.
The parliamentarian recounted a recent incident in which a young urban music artist, with no explicit political affiliation, wore a T-shirt bearing the slogan: “I live in Venezuela and I do not want war,” a sentiment that, according to Infante, is shared by the vast majority of the population. However, in response, “another despicable artist” promoted a campaign of social media harassment against the young man, revealing a pro-war stance.
Infante stressed that military exercises such as Independence 200 (to safeguard 284 strategic sites in the country), Sovereign Caribbean 200 (for the maritime front), and civil protection drills also serve as preparation for a possible attack.
The National Council for Sovereignty and Peace is being established in all 24 states of the country to create an organization that transcends the National Assembly and becomes a strong and powerful secretariat, where everyone is represented. They will form their diplomatic, legal, and communications committees, which will serve as the foundation for guiding all actions taken to develop this organization in collaboration with the public.
Thus far, this council has been established in 15 states across the country.
These actions fall within the 7 Transformations Plan promoted by President Nicolás Maduro with the aim of strengthening national unity through self-determination and sovereignty.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SL
