Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino addressing his country Sunday, September 7, on additional military deployment in the coast amid US military threats. Photo: Screenshot from original video/IG/@padrinovladimir.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Sunday, Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a special military deployment to the states of Zulia, Falcón, Nueva Esparta, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro amid escalating military tensions with the United States.
The move follows the announcement last week by US President Donald Trump that an unprecedented US strike on a small boat allegedly killed 11 people, presumably Venezuelans, purportedly transporting narcotics belonging to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. While the veracity and legality of the strike prompted worldwide controversy, some Venezuelan local media reported that the boat departed from the small town of San Juan de Unare in Sucre state.
The claims about San Juan de Unare have not been confirmed by Venezuelan authorities. Venezuelan officials have alleged that the video of the strike released by the US Secretary of War was created using artificial intelligence. The Sucre region has been known for decades as one of Venezuela’s few remaining areas where drug transit through the country may occur.
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New deployments
Minister Padrino said the new deployment covers the Guajira region in Zulia state, the Paraguaná peninsula in Falcón state, as well as Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island), Sucre, and Delta Amacuro states near Trinidad and Tobago.
“Our commander in chief has ordered reinforcements throughout this sector, the Venezuelan Guajira region, and in Falcón state—particularly on the Paraguaná Peninsula,” Padrino said. “This area constitutes a drug trafficking route we have consistently fought. It is crucial to remember that this was the route used for [the US-led mercenary] Operation Gideon in 2020, which was financed by drug traffickers under Colombia’s Iván Duque administration. We must reinforce these two regions with all necessary resources and forces.”
He added that similar reinforcements were ordered for the eastern states of Nueva Esparta, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro.
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Existing operations strengthened
The top Venezuelan military commander also informed the press about ongoing operations, recalling a recent deployment of 15,000 troops to Peace Zone #1 (Táchira and Zulia states), which added to an existing force of 10,000. He said operations have been strengthened in the Sierra de Perijá area of Zulia state to verify the absence of illicit crops, along with anti-narcotic operations on the Meta, Capanaparo, Sinaruco, and Cunabiche rivers in Apure state.
The defense minister concluded by stating that “the Bolivarian Navy continues its deployment along our Caribbean and Atlantic coasts, while our Bolivarian Air Force defends and patrols Venezuelan airspace.”
“No one will come to do our job for us; no one will set foot on this land to do what we are obligated to do… We stand in perfect harmony with our people,” he added.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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