Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino during a public event on September 23, 2025. Photo: AVN.
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino LĂłpez has stated that the US empire is seeking “the introduction of special forces to carry out disruptive actions within the national territory,” as well as “sabotage of the electrical system, gas supply, food distribution, and targeted assassinations.”
Speaking from the Marine Corps of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) this Wednesday, October 8, Padrino LĂłpez warned of the multiple forms of Washington’s hostility toward Caracas. He reported on territorial actions to prevent the “strategic paralysis” of the South American country, as part of Operation Independence 200, a new military drill in the states of La Guaira and Carabobo.
Just days after Venezuela warned of a false flag operation against the US colony’s embassy in Caracas, the top military commander said the threat comes not only from forces deployed in the Caribbean Sea, but also “through an air campaign from its surface units, drones, special forces, naval blockades, and the establishment of no-fly zones.”
Three ships carrying 4,000 US imperial troops are currently deployed in the surrounding region, as well as threats of ground incursions against suspected drug cartels. On Oct. 2, Venezuela reported the overflight of F-35 fighter jets from the US empire near its coast. “We have detected more than five vectors with flight characteristics of 400 knots and flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet,” Padrino LĂłpez stated at the time.
The statements of the Venezuelan defense minister on Oct. 8 called on the population to prepare “because the irrationality with which US imperialism acts is not normal, it is anti-political, anti-human, warmongering, rude, vulgar, and it made-up things to point to the Venezuelan State and its leaders as drug traffickers.”
Minister Padrino explained that they are working on “27 territorial actions to strategically guarantee the country’s daily activities through internal control.” These include securing oil and gas complexes, petrochemical plants, pipelines, gas pipelines, service stations, power plants, and substations, as well as maintaining public order.
He added that the FANB is highly united in the face of US imperial threats and has a plan to counter the potential attacks. He explained that he does not want to sound alarmist, but that Venezuela must be prepared for any scenario.
The Independence 200 military drill seeks to strengthen Venezuela’s operational capacity and prevent the “strategic paralysis” sought by the US empire introducing special forces into Venezuelan territory. The FANB is also deployed to prevent the establishment of an “enemy position” and the organization of ambushes, protecting critical points and bridges, and ensuring the functioning of the hospital health network, as well as the transportation and distribution of medicines.
In his speech, Minister Padrino emphasized the falsity of the White House’s accusations against Venezuela. “They know they’re lying,” he said, “just as they’ve lied throughout history to start wars around the world, to seek resources from other parts of the world; they want to do the same to Venezuela, for its wealth.”
He described the US empire’s military deployment in the Caribbean Sea as a “serious threat.” “What they’re doing isn’t a pamphletary action; it’s a multi-million dollar deployment in the Caribbean Sea.”
Padrino noted that the true objective of this political harassment and military threats is to “force a change of government” in Venezuela, a goal that dates back to 2015, when the aggressiveness against the Bolivarian Revolution intensified, declaring the country an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the security of the US colony.
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Finally, he called on the Venezuelan people to continue their daily lives in calm, noting that “chaos is our worst enemy.” He therefore outlined some important strategic points that are and must be developed during this and upcoming military drills to secure order, stability, and a successful response to foreign aggression:
• To calm the psychological situation of the population, with the necessary security and peace provided.
• To keep health care centers active.
• To prepare tasks in which the people will participate with fewer words and more action.
• To protect strategic facilities, power plants, telecommunications facilities, and health centers, and to maintain an active, ongoing offensive front and resistance base.
• To protect oil and petrochemical facilities, oil pipelines, gas pipelines, service stations, and fuel filling stations.
• To patrol and prepare for special actions in border areas.
• To activate the Bolivarian Militia.
• To secure road junctions, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and transportation.
• To remain three steps ahead of aggression and plans for interference.
• To maintain internal order and provide guidance to the population.
• To maintain the initiative, since, by always being at the forefront, Venezuela has emerged victorious in the face of military threats.
(Telesur) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
